For 30 years, Matthews Motors has focused on sales and services of commercial trucks.
The family-owned business is expanding to include an automotive service division as well as a paint and body shop that can accommodate larger trucks.
“This has always been in the roadmap to do,” said Austin Matthews, general manager. “We’re a fleet management company.”
MORE: Matthews Motors Celebrates 30th Anniversary
The fleets the business has serviced are comprised of light-duty to Class 8 trucks. Matthews Motors will further expand to cover automobiles within those fleets as well as personal vehicles owned by individual customers.
While the plans have always included these services, there’s a good reason it’s taken years for them to be filled.
“It’s all about the people. You’ve got to have the right people,” said Aaron Matthews, chief financial officer.
Matthews Motors has hired two people to head the new areas.
Jared Brown will manage the body shop, and Gary Cook will be leading the automotive division. Both men bring years of experience in their fields. Brown practically grew up in the paint and body business, Austin Matthews said, and Cook has spent years on the automotive side.
Cook said the automotive service department will offer oil changes, tire rotations, brake service and general maintenance.
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“We want to be the one-stop fleet shop,” he said.
The automotive side should be fully operational by mid-October. An overhang will be constructed and a customer lounge will be added to the Gordon Highway facility.
The paint and body shop is already open.
Matthews Motors celebrated its 30th anniversary in July. Founder Bob Matthews started the company as a one-man business. It has grown the fleet management company with its current facility which as 24 bays, a trailer shop with 10 bays and 3 paint booths. Also, there are two mobile mechanic vehicles.
Austin Matthews said there are other plans in the books for future expansions and could see the potential for a satellite facility. But as with current efforts, it will take the right people to make those plans a reality.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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