Business News

Courtesy Automotive takes over Frenzel Motors

by Leslie Turk

Lafayette-based auto dealer adds Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM to Abbeville portfolio.

On the heels of a total renovation of its GMC store at 1201 U.S. 167 in Abbeville, Courtesy Automotive Group confirms to ABiz that it has purchased the old Frenzel Motors operation at 2110 Veterans Memorial Drive in the Vermilion Parish city.

The takeover means Courtesy Automotive is now selling a beefed up inventory of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM brands to car shoppers throughout the parish.

“We are very excited to expand the Courtesy Group once again by teaming up with these four major American brands in Vermilion Parish,” says Don Hargroder Sr., founder and owner of Courtesy Automotive Group. Hargroder opened his first dealership in Lafayette in 1983 and is now at the helm of the largest automotive group in Acadiana.

“These brands offer such a diverse lineup of vehicles that cater to so many different people, and we felt like there was a need for that in growing Vermilion Parish,” Hargroder says.

As part of the deal, Courtesy is also managing the International Truck dealership at the same Veterans Memorial Drive location while it awaits approval as a dealer from owner Navistar Inc., Courtesy CEO Paul Stroderd tells ABiz.

Stroderd says Courtesy is planning to renovate the Veterans location but eventually will build a new state-of-the-art facility in Vermilion Parish. Serving as general manager of the entire Courtesy of Vermilion enterprise is Hargroder’s daughter, Michelle Hargroder Simon.

This is not the first time the automotive group has joined with Chrysler, as Courtesy also has a complex on Interstate 10 in Breaux Bridge offering Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and RAM. The company also sells Ford at that location.

Courtesy Automotive Group has almost 350 employees and annual revenues of about $387 million; the company ranked No. 4 on ABiz’s list of the Top 50 Private Companies in Acadiana last year and has been recognized as the No. 1 GM dealer in Louisiana for 12 years, according to GM Data.