Teddy Volkswagen Celebrates One-Year Anniversary, Constantly One Of The Top Dealerships In New York

NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- When Ted Bessen and Steven Risso purchased a Volkswagen dealership from bankruptcy, their goal was to recreate the success achieved at its sister dealership down the block, Teddy Nissan. In a year since opening the doors of Teddy Volkswagen in January 2012, the Bronx business duo has turned the dealership into the top-selling Volkswagen dealership in the history of the Bronx.

"Just like with our dealership down the block, Teddy Volkswagen's growing success is attributed to our strong foundation centered on customer satisfaction and ensuring that the entire team understands our goals," said Risso, co-owner and president of Teddy Volkswagen and Teddy Nissan.

Despite a struggling economy, Bessen and Risso purchased a Bronx Nissan dealership in 2009 that had been closed for a year. In two years' time, they turned it into New York City's top Nissan dealership and created 80 new jobs in the borough with the highest unemployment rate.

In late 2011, Bessen and Risso had then set their sights on an ailing Volkswagen dealership right down Boston Road. After purchasing it, they immediately made renovations to the sales facility, creating a more inviting space for customers. Right away, they had set a goal to make Teddy VW the top-selling VW dealership in New York City — just as they did with their Nissan store.

Today, the dealership is well on its way to achieving that goal, having sold nearly four times as many new and used Volkswagens than the previous dealership in their location, setting an all-time sales record for the Bronx. In terms of month-to-month Volkswagen sales, Teddy VW consistently places in the top five of the top-selling dealerships in the New York market, having reached No. 1 in certified pre-owned sales and No. 2 in new vehicle sales several times each.

Heading into 2013, Teddy VW plans to further excel in the service side with the planned addition of 20 bays in the service facility, which will enlarge it to 18,000 square feet.

1 2 Next › Last »