Yark Automotive Group has been chosen as the Best Place to Buy a Car 10 years in a row!!!

Thank you Toledo for choosing Yark Automotive Group as the Best Place to Buy a Car 10 years in a row!!! We are truly honored to receive this award and thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve this community! 

Yark Automotive Group gives largest donation in partnership history to Make-A-Wish

Yark Automotive Group gives largest donation in partnership 

history to Make-A-Wish

TOLEDO, OH-  Yark Automotive Group will donate its largest check yet to the Make-A-Wish Foundation NW Ohio Region.

On January 26^th at 9am in the Yark Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Showroom on the Central Avenue Strip, Doug Kearns, Yark Automotive Group Vice President, will present a check for $19,335.00 to Eric Slough, the Executive Director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

As part of an annual event, Yark Automotive Group donates a portion of every vehicle sold and serviced in the month of December to the Make A Wish Foundation.  This year’s donation is the largest amount presented by Yark since the partnership began 8 years ago and represents a grand total given in excess of $130,000.  This donation will help grant approximately 4 wishes to children with life threatening medical conditions in our region.

“It is such a honor to be able to make such a difference in a child’s life and we are proud to be partnered with such an amazing organization as Make-A-Wish,” said Kearns, who also sits on the regional MAW Board.  “We have had the pleasure of having Make-A-Wish family recipients involved in our efforts here at the dealership to show the importance of Make-A-Wish.  It is truly a special organization.”

Yark hosted the Halko Family at its Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram dealership promoting the Make-A-Wish Holiday CD for anyone who test drove a car.  Kaylee Halko, an 8 year old girl who suffers from Progeria, was also featured as the voice of Virginia in “Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus” on the Holiday Wishes CD.  Later the same day, Yark Automotive invited the Fineske family, who’s son Jackson is recovering from brain cancer, to speak at their annual Holiday Party about the families Wish and how amazing the experience was for them and for Jackson.  Both families were instrumental in making Yark’s efforts a success.

Yark Automotive Group has partnered with Make-A-Wish as part of its Community Partner Mission.  That mission is ‘to be a good corporate citizen supporting organizations dedicated to uplifting the people and community where we live.’ To learn more, visit Yark’s Community Partnership pages at www.yarkcommunity.com.  Yark Automotive Group is conveniently located at 6019 West Central Avenue, a half-mile east of I-475. Yark Chevrolet is located at 9830 Rt 64 in Whitehouse, Ohio.  Visit Yark online atwww.yarkauto.com.

Founded by Jim Yark in 1981, Yark Automotive Group has grown from 50 employees and less than $20 million in sales to more than 300 employees and annual sales of over $225 million. For the last 17 years, Yark Automotive Group has been the Largest Volume New & Used Vehicle Dealership in Northwest Ohio & Southeast Michigan showcasing 9 vehicle franchises: BMW, Nissan, Subaru, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, & FIAT.  Yark Automotive Group is a Better Business Bureau Torch Award Winner for Marketplace Ethics.

The Yark family is originally from Toledo and both Yark brothers, Jim and John, graduated from local high schools and The Ohio State University. After acquiring the organization in 1981, Jim Yark, Owner & President implemented a detailed business plan and grew the dealership to include its 9 franchises, 6 Pre-Owned vehicle lots, a body shop, a car rental company and the area’s largest retail and wholesale parts department.  Today, the business continues to grow and the family tradition continues with 4 of the Yark children now working in various positions within the company.

FIAT has plans of a wagon version of the FIAT 500!

DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- After a disappointing return to the North American market following a 30-year hiatus, Fiat may get a boost with a new wagon version of its iconic 500 subcompact.

The Italian automaker, which also is the majority owner of Chrysler Group LLC, will introduce a five-door model "related" to its subcompact 500 at the Geneva motor show in March, said Olivier Francois, head of the Fiat brand.

The new model, he said, will be sold in the U.S starting next year. The company has a lot riding on the 500, inspired from the tiny 1950s original. Fiat sold almost 4 million 500s from 1957 to 1975, years when the model was as recognizable as Italian movie stars Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida. Fiat has sold more than 770,000 of the model since bringing the redesigned version back to the market in Europe in 2007.

The new 500 was to have been CEO Sergio Marchionne's answer in the U.S. to the BMW Mini. The model's first year on the North American market went poorly. Only 26,000 cars were sold, about half the number forecasted by the company. That's thrown a wrench into Marchionne's strategy to craft a global auto group combining Fiat and Chrysler and increase revenue to more than 100 billion by 2014.

"We thought we were going to show up and just because of the fact people like gelato and pasta, people will buy it," Marchionne told reporters on Jan. 11. "This is nonsense."

Now the company is banking on a roomier version of the 500 -- as well as the high-performance Abarth derivative of the model, which goes on sale in North America this year -- to get the brand selling. The new wagon model is expected to be bigger and has been developed specifically for the U.S. market, said Dave Sullivan, a product analyst at AutoPacific Inc.

'Open arms' 

"There needs to be a reason for people to downsize and spend more for less other than fuel economy and good looks," Sullivan said in a phone interview. "Dealers would welcome with open arms something with more utility and space" than the 500.

AutoNation Inc. is betting that Fiat will replicate the success of BMW's Mini brand by opening four Fiat franchises and adding two more. The Florida-based retailer has owned Mini franchises since it debuted in the U.S. in 2002.

"Mini started with a product everybody said would never work," said Marc Cannon, a spokesman for AutoNation, Fiat's largest U.S. dealer. "They added more product, the pipeline was slowly built and now everybody wants Mini" dealerships.

Distribution chances 

Fiat expects to sell about 25,000 500s in the U.S. and as much as 40,000 cars in North America this year. The brand has 137 dealers open in the U.S. and will eventually have more than 150, Timothy Kuniskis, head of the Fiat brand in North America, said in an interview in Detroit.

In November he replaced Laura Soave, who had joined Chrysler in 2010 to reintroduce Fiat in the U.S. Fiat is also selling the American version of the model -- which is built in Mexico -- in China and Brazil.

"The dealers are very supportive," Kuniskis said. "We still have growth opportunities because we've got 12 states that don't have a single store."

Awareness of Fiat has grown thanks to Francois's ad campaign for the 500 featuring commercials with singer Jennifer Lopez, Kuniskis added.

The new Fiat five-door wagon, which will be built at the company's plant in Serbia, may have a 500 nameplate, said a person familiar with the plan, who declined to be named as a final decision hasn't been made. The model will come to market in Europe first.

Francois said it was too early to discuss the model's name. Francois said Fiat may need a third model to complete its offerings in North America. Fiat dealers will also sells Alfa Romeo cars from the end of 2013, when the sports-car maker plans its return to the U.S. market.

Retro styling 

BMW reintroduced the retro-styled Mini hatchback in 2001 as an upscale compact to appeal to urban drivers and has since added variants including a coupe, a convertible and a wagon to broaden its appeal. BMW has expanded the Mini lineup to six models, with the addition this year of a two-seat roadster.

The carmaker retained the brand after unwinding its failed takeover of the U.K.'s Rover Group. The brand's U.S. sales increased to 57,500 last year from 24,590 in 2002, its first year, according to Autodata, a New Jersey-based researcher.

Even as Fiat missed sales targets last year and delayed the U.S. introduction of Alfa Romeo, the brand has increased its franchise count by about 30 percent in the past three months, said Mitch Phillips, global practice director at Urban Science, a Detroit-based dealer consultant.

Seeking partnership 

"The dealer count has been stable," Phillips said in a phone interview. "There is a demand for those dealerships."

Fiat also wants to stem losses in Europe with sales of models related to 500, as well as its new subcompact Panda, after sales in its Italian home-market fell 14 percent last year to 506,020, according to the Italian transport ministry.

Marchionne, who acknowledged last April that he neglected European operations in favor of a U.S. turnaround, is now considering combining with another carmaker in the region to cut costs, share platforms and reduce the overcapacity issue as sales may remain flat until 2014.

"The real value of all this" would be in the small-car segments "where you could effectively unify the architectures," he said last week in Detroit. Fiat moved Panda production back to a less productive plant in Italy, near Naples, from a Polish factory as part of its investment plan for Italy.

The carmaker will begin airing a new commercial Jan. 22 showing its commitment to the country using philosopher Aristotle's motto, "The things we make, make us."

"We have to restore the brand equity of Fiat," Francois said. "Now clearly we have to re-establish the love relationship with Italians and their brand, as we did here" in the U.S. with Chrysler.

SOURCE :  www.autonews.com

To read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120117/COPY01/301179890#ixzz1jpAguzL5

Yark Automotive Group Celebrates the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the month of December

Yark Automotive Group celebrates the Make A Wish Foundation NW Ohio Region this December!  For each vehicle purchase, Yark Automotive donates a portion to the Make A Wish Foundation.  This is the 8th consecutive year Yark Automotive Group has teamed up with the Make A Wish Foundation to raise money to grant wishes to children with life-threatening conditions.  To date, Yark has donated over $110,000 to the local chapter.

On December 17th, Yark hosted a special Test Drive Event to celebrate Kaylee Halko, a local Make A Wish recipient.  Any vehicle that was taken on a test drive that day, the customer received a copy of the Make A Wish Holiday Wishes CD and Yark made a donation to the foundation.  This CD is compromised of local talent reading and singing holiday classics.


The 'Holiday Wishes' CD features local artists like Kyle White, Ramona Collins, Pat Dailey and special guests like Chrys Peterson, Jamie Farr lend their musical talents while Fox Anchors Laura Emerson and Shaun Hegarty read the story of Frosty the Snowman.


In addition, our special guest Kaylee Halko, contributed to the CD reading, "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus' with Crystal Bowersox, and she was on hand to sign autographs and our Yark Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram store.  Kaylee is a 6 year old girl who suffers from Progeria, a rare genetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aspects of aging are manifested at an early ago.  Kaylee and her family were granted a wish of making Kaylee a star.  Her talents and wish landed her on the Holiday Wishes CD for Make A Wish.


Join Yark Automotive Group and Make A Wish Foundation and help in sharing the power of a wish this holiday season.  Yark's Make A Wish campaign ends this Saturday, December 31st.  To learn more about how you can help "share the power of a wish" contact us today.


Yark Automotive Group is conveniently located at 6019 West Central Avenue, a half mile east of I-475 on the Central Avenue strip.  Visit us online at www.yarkauto.com

Yark Automotive Group awarded the Better Business Bureau's Highest Honor

TOLEDO, OH Yark Automotive Group was awarded the 2011 Winner Better Business Bureau Torch Award on Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 at the Annual BBB Torch Award Luncheon.  

The BBB Torch Award recognizes businesses and organizations in Northwest Ohio and SE Michigan that maintain a solid commitment to conducting their business practices in an ethical fashion. Other factors that are assessed are the businesses‟ current BBB rating, fiscal responsibility, excellence in customer care and consumer leadership. 

Yark has been a finalist for this prestigious award 2 previous years taking home the top honor this year. Yark‟s commitment to treating customer‟s fairly and ethically in their everyday business practices, having a strong commitment to educating their employees on ethics and ensuring all employees „do the right thing, even when no one is watching, even if it costs us money‟ were foundations for receiving this award. 

“It was a privilege to accept this award on behalf of the collective organization, our employees, our management teams and our partners that work with us tirelessly to provide a world-class experience for our customers,” said John Yark, company President. “We simply could not be viewed by the people who purchase or service their vehicles with us as an ethical business unless each and every one of our employees believe that doing the right thing, every day is how we should do business.” 

The BBB will automatically forward the winners of Torch Award to the International BBB Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics competition where Yark Automotive will compete with all local Torch Award winners from across the US and Canada. 

“The Torch Award says a lot for everyone in our company,” said Yark. “We truly believe our employees are the backbone to our customer experience and without them, without having the best employees,, we would not be able to give our customers a world-class experience.” 

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Founded by Jim Yark in 1981, Yark Automotive Group has grown from 50 employees and less than $20 million in sales to more than 300 employees and annual sales of over $200 million. For the last 16 years, Yark Automotive Group has been the Largest Volume New & Used Vehicle Dealership in Northwest Ohio & Southeast Michigan showcasing 9 vehicle franchises: BMW, Nissan, Subaru, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, & FIAT. 

The Yark family is originally from Toledo and both Yark brothers, Jim and John, graduated from local high schools and The Ohio State University. After acquiring the organization in 1981, Jim Yark, Owner & President implemented a detailed business plan and grew the dealership to include its 9 franchises, 6 Pre-Owned vehicle lots, a body shop, a car rental 

company and the area’s largest retail and wholesale parts department. Today, the business continues to grow and the family tradition continues with 4 of the Yark children now working in various positions within the company. 

Jim attributes his success to the people in the organization; “Anybody can get a piece of ground and maybe a car franchise, but clearly, we have found fabulous people! Our employees have strong customer awareness, a good sense for the car business, high ethics, stability and positive attitudes.” 

Eight Chrysler Group LLC Vehicles Take Home a Consumers Digest 'Best Buy' for the 2012 Model Year

SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

The Chrysler Group vehicles that received Consumers Digest automotive “Best Buys” for the 2012 

model year are:  Chrysler: 300, Town & Country, Jeep®: Grand Cherokee, Dodge: Durango, 

Grand Caravan, Challenger Ram: 1500 FIAT 500

“It’s a tremendous honor to have so many vehicles named as ‘Best Buys’ by Consumers Digest,” said Doug Betts, Senior Vice President – Quality, Chrysler Group LLC. “We have gone to great lengths to enhance the craftsmanship and quality of all of our vehicles. These awards are evidence that we’re producing cars, trucks, crossovers, minivans and SUVs that customers – and critics – appreciate.”

As testament to the improvements made to Chrysler Group’s vehicles in terms of quality and desirability, the Company earlier today announced that vehicle sales are up for the 19th consecutive month. 

The Consumers Digest automotive “Best Buys” issue is an annual publication in which editors judge vehicles on many build quality and performance attributes such as ergonomics, fit and finish, utility, acceleration, fuel economy and many more. They also look at cost of ownership variables such as resale value, warranty, maintenance costs and annual operating expenses. The top vehicles in 12 separate categories are then chosen as “Best Buys” by the publication. 

FIAT 500

The 2012 Fiat 500 caters to a new generation of Americans who want their vehicle to be as engaging, individualized, ecologically responsible and technologically savvy as they are. This modern-generation Fiat 500 offers safety, fuel economy, quality and advanced technology perfectly balanced with iconic Italian style.

With its city-friendly proportions, engaging driving dynamics, all-new fuel-efficient 1.4-liter FIAT MultiAir® engine delivering up to 38 highway mpg and a best-in-class 30 mpg city (with manual transmission), standard state-of-the-art BLUE&ME™ Handsfree Communication technology, seven standard air bags and new quality and refinement adaptations for the U.S. market, including an all-new six-speed automatic transmission, the 2012 Fiat 500 offers a unique ownership experience.

Chrysler 300

Once limited to premium import vehicles costing twice as much, the new segment-exclusive eight-speed automatic transmission expands the world-class power and fuel-efficiency of the 2012 Chrysler 300, 300S (V-6) and 300 Limited models and offers class-leading fuel efficiency

Packed with a 363 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine including innovative Fuel Saver Technology, a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and Auto Stick, performance-tuned suspension and larger performance disc brakes, the V-8 models deliver world-class power and refinement.

Chrysler Town & Country

The 2012 Chrysler Town & Country minivan builds upon the dramatic, and well received, changes made in the previous model year. Already imbued with innovative technology, unparalleled functionality, classic design, and a long list of standard convenience and safety features, enhancements in refinement make the 2012 Town & Country a true stand-out in the minivan segment.

Improvements for 2012 include standard leather seating and rear-seat DVD for all models, new Sapphire Blue interior lighting scheme and a combination leather and wood steering wheel for Limited models.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2012 Jeep® Grand Cherokee delivers with even more refinement and features that can be appreciated on the road and off. Since its introduction, the 2012 Jeep® Grand Cherokee has captured more than 30 awards from an array of opinion-leading organizations making it the most awarded SUV ever.

The most capable Grand Cherokee ever with available Jeep Selec-Terrain™ system, Quadra-Lift™ air suspension, and front and rear independent suspension also has V-6 and V-8 engine choices that offer class-leading driving range (550 miles with V-6) or class-leading towing capability (7,400 lbs. V-8). Jeep grand Cherokee truly is a no-compromises, go anywhere and do anything SUV. 

Dodge Challenger

The 2012 Dodge Challenger delivers exactly what muscle car enthusiasts want — a powerful and efficient engine lineup, a performance suspension designed for maximum grip, and athletic head-turning styling — all executed with quality and precision.

The Dodge Challenger SXT model and Challenger SXT Plus package feature the lightweight, aluminum 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine with 305 horsepower, responsive 268 lb.-ft. of torque and up to 27 mpg highway. With legendary 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engines under their hoods, the 2012 Challenger R/T model delivers up to 375 horsepower, 410 lb.-ft. of torque and 25 mpg highway.

Dodge Durango

Durango has driving dynamics unlike what you typically find in a Sport Utility. No other SUV on the road compares with the all-new Dodge Durango’s distinctive bold Dodge design that craftily houses a spacious three-row, seven-passenger functional, flexible and premium interior, covered in soft-touch materials.

Durango offers standard seven-passenger seating, best-in-class power, best-in-class towing, best-in-class driving range of more than 550 miles, more than 30 storage areas, 28 seating configurations and a rear cargo area of nearly 85 cubic feet that fits a six-foot couch with room for coffee table or a 10-foot ladder with the front passenger seat folded flat.

Dodge Grand Caravan

The 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to lead the segment it created. New for 2012, Dodge is offering a new American Value Package (AVP), which makes the best-selling minivan ever the most affordable minivan with a starting U.S. Manufacturers’ Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $20,995 (all prices exclude destination).

Chrysler Group invented the modern minivan in 1983 with the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. Seventy-five minivan-first innovations and 13 million minivan sales later, the company still leads the way with the best, most innovative vehicle to move people and things.

Ram 1500

The Ram 1500 offers a variety of models for customers who rely on their trucks for work and play. In addition to the 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 which produces 390 horsepower, 407 lb.-ft. of torque and 20 mpg, the 2012 Ram 1500 offers a flex-fuel capable 4.7-liter V-8 providing 310 horsepower and 330 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 3.7-liter V-6 generating 215 horsepower and 235 lb.-ft. of torque; five and six-speed automatic transmissions; part-time and on-demand four-wheel-drive transfer cases and 3.21, 3.55, 3.92 and 4.10 axle ratios.

The 2012 Ram 1500 is offered in Regular Cab, Quad Cab® and Crew Cab models, with three box lengths: 8-foot (Regular Cab), 6-foot-4-inches (Regular Cab and Quad Cab), and 5-foot-7-inches (Ram 1500 Crew Cab). Thirteen trim levels are available, each with a unique appearance: Tradesman, tradesman Heavy Duty, Express, Outdoorsman, ST, SLT, Sport, Sport R/T, Lone Star, Big Horn, Mossy Oak, Laramie and Laramie Longhorn.

Ways to stay safe while driving in the rain!

The elements make it difficult to get around by car at times, but by taking a few precautions and changing the way you drive will definitely help to stay safe on the roads.   By making sure you have enough tread on your tires and operating windshield wipers are just a few examples of what you can do to prevent an accident.   It's also a great idea to allow for more travel time.  It may be hard to tell what traffic will be like and most people travel at a slower pace to reduce the risk of an accident.

Here are good driving tips in the rain:

1) Brake earlier to increase the stopping distance between you and the car in front of you
2) Stay toward the middle of the road to avoid hydroplaning on deep puddles
3) Do not use your cruise control because if you hydroplane you car could accelerate and your stopping time will be delayed because your foot is not on the brake
4) Drive around puddles- not through them
5) Don't attempt to drive through running water because if the force of the water is greater than the weight of your vehicle, you will be pushed sideways!
6) Watch out for pedestrians
7) Track the car ahead of you
8) Give a truck or bus extra distance
9) Defog your windows
10) Turn on your headlight


If you have an questions, let us know!  We're always here to help!