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Miami’s Bomnin Chevrolet Locations Become #1, #2 for General Motors Sales Worldwide, Bomnin Volvo Earns #1 for Volvo in USA

Bomnin Chevrolet West Kendall and Bomnin Chevrolet Dadeland sit only eight miles apart, but were able to become the two highest volume Chevrolet stores in the World during 2021, an outstanding achievement considering South Florida had previously been a predominantly import and luxury market.

In Bomnin Volvo’s first full year in business, the team delivered 1,760 new Volvos during 2021, ranking as the #1 Volvo dealer in the Nation nearly every month. Bomnin Volvo sold more than 17 percent more new Volvos during 2021 than the nation’s second leading Volvo dealer.

“This was truly a team achievement. Our team’s hard work, dedication, conviction, and ‘Commitment to Excellence’ culminated in these remarkable accomplishments,” said Arnaldo Bomnin, Bomnin Automotive Group’s founder and CEO. “I cannot think of a better way to express my gratitude than to thank my team from the bottom of my heart and say, ‘All the Glory to God.’ I am humbled and grateful for what we were able to accomplish during a year of supply chain and pandemic-related uncertainty and am looking forward to what the future has in store for the Bomnin Auto Team.”

In addition to being known as one of the top vehicle retailers in America, Bomnin Automotive Group is also known locally in south Florida for giving back to the community, recently hosting a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, as well as partnering with Miami-Dade County Police for a Christmas Toy giveaway.

“While we are overjoyed to announce these incredible accomplishments, we would like to thank you, the community, for choosing us as your preferred Chevrolet and Volvo dealerships,” said Bomnin. “We sell cars, but our passion is giving back to the community.”

Read the full article on F&I and Showroom Magazine.

Miami’s Bomnin Chevrolet Locations Become #1, #2 for General Motors Sales Worldwide, Bomnin Volvo Earns #1 for Volvo in USA

Despite crisis, Miami dealer increased advertising to keep up sales

In the 1990s, Arnaldo Bomnin was selling lobsters out of the back of a truck. Today, he's selling more Chevrolets than any other dealership in the U.S. Bomnin, who fled Cuba after earning a medical degree and trading his dream of becoming a doctor for a career as a car dealer, got to No. 1 in the midst of a pandemic the same way he has approached everything in life: "You always need to be different to succeed," he said.

In early April, when many U.S. dealerships shut down to comply with government orders or voluntarily reduced hours, Bomnin, 49, told his employees that — other than implementing additional safety procedures — they would stay business as usual and spend more on advertising as competitors cut back. "In the last two months, we have spent more money on TV ads than we have spent in the last 10 years," he told Automotive News. "I knew people would be at home. I knew that people would be watching TV."

Bomnin has three General Motors dealerships near Miami and one near Washington, D.C. His two biggest Miami stores, just 8 miles apart, rank first and third nationally in Chevy sales this year through May. Each has experienced less than a 10 percent decline year-to-date in a market forecast to be down at least double that. If inventory wasn't strained because of GM's two-month production shutdown and he could count sales of loaner vehicles toward the stores' volume, they would rank first and second, Bomnin said.

In the second half of March, two of Bomnin's stores went from being on track for a record month to having their worst two weeks in the last decade. "The feeling was like a train impacting a concrete wall," he said. Starting April 4, as the coronavirus continued to sweep through the country, Bomnin limited all of his showrooms to 10 employees and shortened their hours, with most staffers working every few days. But he couldn't sleep that weekend because he felt he was "getting on the same train" as everyone else. So Bomnin asked his leadership team what they would want to tell future generations they did during the pandemic. Most wanted to be able to say they worked harder than ever to provide for their family, he recalled. Finding a way forward The idea resonated with Bomnin, who after arriving in Florida worked in landscaping, made boxes for avocados for $5 per hour and sold lobsters to earn enough money to bring his family to the U.S. So he called all willing employees back to work with safety measures in place. "When you are responsible for 525 families, you cannot focus on the negative," he said. "You need to focus on solutions and opportunities so we can all succeed." Most common areas within the showrooms remain closed, and customers and employees must wear masks and maintain social distancing.

Sales improved each week in April. New-vehicle sales were down 25 percent for the month, compared with an estimated 50 percent drop across the industry, according to the Automotive News Data Center. While Bomnin's extra TV advertising promoted the big discounts GM was offering, his dealerships posted videos about health and safety on social media.

His wife, brother and father now help him run the Miami-area stores. And two sons of the cousin who hired Bomnin at the Nissan store are his business partners at the Manassas dealership.

Read the Full Article Here: https://www.autonews.com/dealers/despite-crisis-miami-dealer-increased-advertising-keep-sales

Bomnin Donates $250K to Charitable Causes and Gave Away a Chevy Equinox During New Dealership Opening in Homestead

Arnaldo Bomnin celebrated the grand opening of his company’s first Chevrolet and Cadillac dealership in Homestead, Florida by giving away more than $250,000 in one night to the community. During the celebration, dealership team members, community members and special guests gathered to enjoy music, food and entertainment, all while checking out the newest Bomnin dealership. The event was highlighted by a series of charity check presentations, which included:

• $55,000 to the Rotary Club of Homestead
• $50,000 to the Police Officer Assistance Trust
• $15,000 to the Military Affairs Committee

“There’s a quote on the the wall of our new dealership – we sell cars, but our passion is giving back to the community. This is at the core of everything we do at Bomnin Chevrolet,” said Arnaldo Bomnin, owner of Bomnin Chevrolet. “I grew up in a farming community similar to Homestead. I love it here. Our plan is to grow our support of the community and I couldn’t be more thankful for the warm reception we’ve been shown, so far.”

The night’s festivities reached an emotional crescendo with the presentation of a new 2019 Chevrolet Equinox as a gift to a local family in need. Eva Martinez and her family, whose 15-year-old son suffers from a rare genetic metabolic disorder called GA1, were invited to the event and surprised with the brand-new car.

“The generosity Bomnin Chevrolet has shown us is beyond my expectation. I had initially sent a letter to them asking for a discount. To give me a brand new, reliable car that allows me to provide for my family is amazing,” said Eva Martinez. Bomnin Chevrolet Homestead is located at 1075 Southeast Sixth Avenue and was formerly Keith Pierson Chevrolet Superstore. Through the purchase of the dealership, Bomnin Chevrolet expects to bring over 100 new jobs to the area. Currently the company employs over 550 team across its four locations.

The new Bomnin Cadillac Chevrolet Homestead dealership is expected to contribute to Bomnin Chevrolet’s ongoing success and offer residents access to the award-winning inventory and services. “We have been the largest Chevy dealer to the Homestead area, and we can now better serve that community by being conveniently close by for sales and service,” said Bomnin. Click Here to go to the article on Miami's Community Newspapers.

Click Here to go to the article on Miami's Community Newspapers.

Bomnin continues Success Story with Opening of Homestead Dealership

Arnaldo Bomnin came to the US by himself from Cuba at the age of 25 in 1996. In just 25 years, he has fulfilled the American dream. Through ambition, intelligence and hard work he is now a very successful auto magnate, owner of five car dealerships employing 525 associates.

And this weekend, Bomnin will be holding the official grand opening of their newest dealership here in Homestead. Bomnin Chevrolet Homestead will cut the ribbon at the store located at 1075 SE 6th Ave, Homestead (the former Keith Pierson Chevrolet).

Bomnin came to the states as a medical doctor, but was not licensed in the US. His first job was in an avocado warehouse here in Homestead. With a small loan from his uncle, he bought landscaping equipment. But then he needed transportation. He was convinced to buy a van from an acquaintance, but it came with a seafood business. The first week they drove together to Key West, purchasing 500 lbs. of lobster which they brought back to Perrine and sold immediately to area restaurants for a $1 per lb. profit. The next week, on his own, he purchased 300 lbs of lobsters. Expecting to sell them right away, he realized it was a scam and none of the restaurants would buy from him. He had to do something, so he started to sell them along US1 and to many of the auto dealerships in the area. That was his first experience with the auto industry.

After the van broke down, he asked for a job at South Motors Nissan, as a porter. But no, they put him in sales, even though he had no conversational English. He had everything translated on paper and would read it to his new customers.

He sold cars by day and attended Miami Dade College at night so that he could learn English.

When the dealership was sold in 1999, he thought he would use his savings and go back to school for his US medical credentials. But the new owners, Auto Nation, wanted him to come back. It was then that he decided to make the car business his career. He was able to use his savings to bring his family to the US from Cuba.

He worked his way up from sales to sales manager, general sales manager, and then in 2006 as general manager of Auto Nation Chevrolet Doral. His younger brother, Isidro, was also seeing success working in the car industry.

But with the recession in 2009, profits in the car industry took a big hit. Bomnin had always wanted to own his own dealership, but he had a one-year non-compete clause in his contract. He and his wife thought this downturn in the economy would be the perfect time to walk away for a year and prepare to follow their dream.

After the non-compete clause expired, they were able to buy the Dadeland dealership. At the time it was very old. They cleaned it up and refurbished it as a green facility, completed in May 2013. As a company, Bomnin is committed to a green workplace. All purchases are completed on computers with large touch screens for the customers. Sign on the screen, leave with a USB, no papers wasted.

On May 1, 2015 Bomnin’s wife Yani and his brother Isidro, joined with him as partners. Following this new partnership, the company has grown from 69 associates to 525; from one franchise to five; from 300 cars sold a week to their best week so far of 1700 cars.

Bomnin says, “We changed the culture and applied a vision. We let God lead us by his hand, pray every morning for his guidance.”

At Bomnin, he hopes to stress that every associate (employee) is empowered to do what is right for others including their customers. And in that vein, six associates from Bomnin dealerships were empowered with leadership positions at the new Homestead store.

Bomnin is enthusiastic about the new Homestead location. “I grew up in a farming community similiar to Homestead. I love it here. Our plan is to grow our support of the community, as we have through Craig Pearce who is our community ambassador. Pearce, a volunteer in many Homestead service organizations, brought Bomnin’s presence to Homestead last year as the lead sponsor for the Rotary Club of Homestead’s Seafood Festival, which raises thousands of scholarship dollars for South Dade students.

“We have been the largest Chevy dealer to the Homestead area, and we can now better serve that community” by being conveniently close by for sales and service.

Click Here to go to article on South Dade Newsleader