Grindstaffs sell car dealerships to National Automotive Group

Published 2:47 pm Friday, May 26, 2023

Nation Automotive Group, owned by Dawud Muhammed, has purchased the dealerships Happy Valley Ford and Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, previously owned by the Grindstaff Automotive Group.

“I am fortunate to have acquired the dealerships in the Elizabethton community and I look forward to creating additional employment and job opportunities in the Tri-Cities area. Our team is humbled to integrate ourselves and give back the warmth and blessings we’re already receiving,” said Muhammed in a press release.

“I promise to incorporate our standards of excellence and reputable service from Nissan of Hendersonville into these new dealerships, to polish and refine Ford of Elizabethton and Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Elizabethton,” Muhammed added. “We’re going the extra smile – let us put an extra smile on you.”

Ford of Elizabethton is located at 2224 W Elk Ave., in Elizabethton, (423) 518-3610, and CDJR of Elizabethton is located right next door at 2226 W Elk Ave., (423) 542-2187.

In order for the public to meet the staff and management, the locations are planning two parties. “This weekend, we’ll have food trucks and the radio station here, so we hope people will come in to meet everyone,” said Floor Manager Jacob Marshall. The businesses are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“We’re part of this community and most of the sales staff are from here. We’ll still support local ball teams and you probably will see our staff members out there watching their own kids playing ball, too. We want to be neighborly – we are small dealerships in a small town and we want to support our community.”

The next Saturday, June 3, promises the chance for the community to see many vehicles during a car show at the dealerships. “It’s a good old-fashioned neighborhood shindig,” Marshall said. “We’ll have a chance to meet our potential customers, but they don’t have to buy anything. We want them to come to our dealerships and see how diverse vehicles are. Everyone has something they prefer, and this event should please everyone in some way.”

Marshall also alluded to a surprise, though it’s not yet written in stone. “We might – we might – have some original and classic muscle cars here June 3, provided by a local,” he said. “It will be so great to see vintage Dodge products because Dodge isn’t making Chargers or Challengers anymore. It’s the end of the muscle car. And people will be able to see how things change and evolve and see the advancement of car building.”

June 3’s The Invitational’s Cars and Coffee after dark will be held from 6 to 10 p.m., with automotive vendors, a loaded VIP section and tons of “awesome cars, trucks and motorcycles for all enthusiasts to see.” Visit the Ford of Elizabethton’s Facebook page for more information.

The press release stated that “Ford is a family company, and after 117 years, they are used to adapting to and leading change, which is why they’re evolving to focus on services, experiences and software as well as vehicles. Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram offers a full spectrum of choices from luxury, premium and mainstream passenger vehicles, to pickup trucks, SUVs and commercial vehicles, providing clean, connected, affordable and safe vehicle solutions.”

Ford of Elizabethton and Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Elizabethton stated that they are “proud to serve your automotive needs with integrity, transparency and respect.”