Jim Falk to bring Chrysler back to isle | News, Sports, Jobs

Chrysler vehicles will be sold through a local dealership once again, following Jim Falk Automotive’s inking of a franchise contract with Chrysler about four months ago.

Jim Falk, owner of Ford, General Motors, Nissan, Hyundai and Mazda dealerships on Maui, told The Maui News on Friday that his company is expected to begin selling Dodge, Jeep and Ram lines in two-and-a-half to three weeks, about mid-February, when enough of a selection of vehicles is accumulated.

The service center for Chrysler vehicles currently is open, he added. It is ready to handle servicing, repairs and warranty checks.

A new showroom for the Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles will be built at 195 Puunene Ave. in Kahului, currently a used car lot that sits across Hololea Street from Jim Falk’s Valley Isle Motors, which sells Fords and Lincolns.

The Chrysler service center will be on the Valley Isle Motors side of Hololea Street, near the current Ford service center.

Maui has not had a Chrysler dealership since 2009, when bankrupt Chrysler Corp. LLC closed nearly 800 of its 3,200 dealerships – including Island Dodge on Maui. It was the only Chrysler dealership on the island.

Back then, there was “not enough market for anything,” Falk said. “Now, there is plenty demand.”

Over the past two years, Falk said he has been in negotiations with Chrysler officials about a franchise for Maui. The franchise agreement includes building a facility for the product line and a service center, he said.

Falk said he expects to “represent the line for many, many years.”

“It’s a great line,” he said, adding that Jeep is “especially hot” as are Dodge trucks.

Falk said that the dealership will be carrying the full Chrysler line of vehicles.

Since buying the Ford franchise on Maui in 1985, Falk, the owner of Jim Falk Automotive Group, has accumulated major vehicle lines on Maui. He bought the General Motors line, which includes Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick, in 2003.

Falk also owns a Lexus dealership in Beverly Hills, Calif.

His company sold about 3,500 cars, new and used, on Maui last year, he said.

* Lee Imada can be reached at leeimada@mauinews.com.

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