McCombs obtained his automotive begin at a Ford dealership in Corpus Christi. He excelled as a new-car salesman however moved into used-car gross sales when, as he advised Automotive News in 2011, he noticed a wage chart exhibiting he earned lower than the shop’s lowest-paid used-vehicle gross sales worker. He would go on to open two used-vehicle tons in Corpus Christi, later including a dealership promoting the ill-fated Ford Edsel, earlier than transferring to San Antonio to assist flip round a struggling Ford dealership there.
“I built a business empire working out of an office at a car dealership,” he advised Automotive News in a 2011 profile.
His dealership group would develop at one time into the sixth-largest within the U.S., counting gross sales of $1.3 billion in 1997, in accordance with Automotive News in 2011. Red McCombs Automotive ranked No. 69 on Automotive News‘ checklist of the highest 150 dealership teams within the U.S., with gross sales of 13,905 new autos and 11,378 used autos in 2021. That yr, the nine-store group introduced in $1.13 billion in income.
As of November, the group had seven shops promoting Ford, Toyota, Hyundai and Genesis autos.
In 2008, McCombs was acknowledged with the Texas Automobile Dealers Association’s Legends Hall of Fame, which the group stated is designed to acknowledge sellers “who have created a body of work in the industry and community that sets them apart from all others.”
“Many of you have stories to retell and special memories to relive with respect to ‘Red,’ ” affiliation leaders, together with President Darren Whitehurst, wrote in a be aware to sellers after McCombs’ dying.
“Red’s empire is well-known to all the Texas dealers as he was involved in numerous businesses from his franchised dealerships to ranching, sports, radio and television, oil and gas, and many other business ventures,” the affiliation wrote. “His many donations to the community and numerous charitable organizations are celebrated and notable.”
Source: www.autonews.com