Some set of wheels
Penske Automotive Group”™s new service center for Audi, Mercedes, Porsche and Smart on Scofield Drive in Fairfield is now fully operational.
The state-of-the-art 100,000-square-foot service center tends to between 150 and 200 cars daily.
The space, formerly a Coca-Cola bottling facility, is kept spotless by an automated cleaning system.
“In Fairfield, we service our luxury German brands, Audi, Mercedes and Porsche,” said Randall Seymore, Penske Automotive Group Connecticut area vice president. “On Commerce Drive, we”™re building our new sales center; in fact we”™ll have the largest Porsche showroom in the Northeast, it”™ll be able to fit 30-plus cars in it. This end of Fairfield, the business community and the town of Fairfield have been great for us.”
The facility features separate indoor heated and air-conditioned areas for each brand and 68 service bays fitted with color-coordinated lifts for each brand, a car wash and detailing center. Penske also boasts separate private lounges for each of the three luxury brands with free refreshments, high-speed Internet access, high-definition flat-screen televisions and a merchandise boutique.
“There”™s certainly an expectation when that customer comes in here ”“ they”™re spending a lot of money on these cars,” said Seymore. As for the experience: “You drive in, you see the shop, you see where your car is going to be worked on, and these are their babies. These technicians, they take a lot of pride in what they”™re doing. These are professionals ”“ we recognize them with a nameplate ”“ it has what certification level they”™re at.”
Of the 115 total staff of management and trained technicians, 20 percent are women. The facility has won praise from all three of its luxury brands: from Mercedes the “Best of the Best” award; from Audi the “Magna Society” designation; and from Porsche the “Premier Dealer” tag.