There’s something about a car lot full of shiny new cars and trucks that pulls at the capitalist impulses in all of us. The trouble, lately, is that the car lot is looking pretty bare. In Bryson City, Mountain Ford has long been where locals and visitors alike go when they want a new or used car or truck.
That’s still the case, but 2020 has been a trying year, primarily when it comes to inventory. Gary Jennings, dealership owner, said it’s very hard to get vehicles right now.
To begin with, Ford manufacturing facilities were closed for about 2 ½ months at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States.
“With no new inventory coming in, people were buying used cars so the price is sky high for used cars,” Jennings explained. “The prices are so high I can’t buy ‘em and bring them back here and be fair to our customers.”
In a normal year, new vehicles are delivered to the lot throughout the year, generally at a handful at a time, now, Jennings said, it’s been more like one at a time.
Despite the challenges, Jennings said Mountain Ford has done it’s best to meet the needs of customers.
“For new car inventory, we have several dealers we work back and forth with. So, if they have something we need and it’s available they give it to me and vice versa,” Jennings said. “As far as used car inventory goes, it makes it kind of hard.”
Despite the setbacks, the business and its employees remain positive. While sales staff who rely heavily on commission to earn their living aren’t making what they did in the past, Jennings said, “We are able to survive at this point, and they are able to get by. At this point we are selling some cars we’re just not selling the volume we did a year ago or even in February.”
Mountain Ford also had a repair side of the business, which Jennings said has remained steady through 2020.
“We’re able to survive and pay the bills and everybody is able to make a living, things are just a little bit tighter,” Jennings said.
Even as the economy is moving ahead, it’s unclear when the inventory will get back to normal.
“I wish I had that crystal ball, I really do, but there’s no timeline,” Jennings said. “They are telling us they are back at full speed but they are so far behind they are playing catch up, and that goes with all manufacturers not just with Ford.”
Regardless, Jennings is maintaining a positive attitude for getting through the challenges of the pandemic. He also encourages people to support local businesses.
“We survived the recession in 07,08 and 09,” he said. “We’re going to survive the coronavirus. We just hope everybody does their best to buy cars and anything local to help the local merchants it’s how we survive.”