Adventures in automotive

"I think (working in the auto industry) is just an adventure every day because people are very excited about buying new vehicles—it’s kind of a contagious excitement,” said Jim Szakacs.

Apart from five years doing youth work, Szakacs has spent his life in the auto industry, following in his father’s footsteps. Now, he’s with the Kootenay Import Auto Group, which has four dealerships in Cranbrook, B.C. It’s become a family tradition, one Jim is proud of, with his daughter and son entering the business.

With a passion for meeting with customers, Szakacs has found a good fit with the industry. He’s also extremely knowledgeable about the product and services.

“The new product coming down the line over the next year to 18 months is absolutely phenomenal,” he said. “The new fuel economy ratings are much higher. The performance ratings are much higher. I love the new styling. The new Nissan product has some beautiful stuff coming . . . Volkswagen as a brand is really increasing on the worldwide stage . . . Hyundai has been a very successful brand—their Canadian sales and U.S. sales have skyrocketed over the last couple of years. Also, the Subaru brand—people love that brand. It’s a really good mix for our dealerships.”

With plenty of experience behind him, Szakacs is looking forward to moving on into the new year and continuing to offer the best experience possible to the customers who visit the dealerships.

“We’re very optimistic about 2014. I think the economy in the Kootenays is only going to get stronger,” he said. “Automotive-wise, the Canadian market is really looking for a strong year (and) we’re looking forward to a great year.”