Richard Chevrolet-A Dealership Living By Example

Richard Chevrolet in Cheshire has been a part of the community for close to 50 years, opening its doors in 1975.  During that time much has changed, but Richard Chevrolet’s commitment to serving its community in a responsible way has not.

As concerns about protecting the environment, preventing global warming, and reducing carbon footprints have evolved, so has Richard Chevrolet’s dedication to being an active participant in environmental protection.  In 2018 when Chevrolet launched their Electric Vehicle (EV) pilot program, Richard Chevrolet was the first Chevrolet dealership in Connecticut to participate and install EV chargers on site.  Richard Chevrolet then went a step further, and in the same year converted to solar power, installing 856 panels which currently provide 70% of the power used on site. With the dealership’s recent addition of 10,000 sq ft of space, there are plans in the works to add 206 solar panels to power the new area.  This makes Richard Chevrolet the largest Chevy dealership in Connecticut with 50,000 sq ft of space, which will be powered by 1,062 solar panels.

Today, Richard Chevrolet has 7 EV chargers on site, including two fast chargers which can fully charge an EV battery within 20 minutes.  On March 26, 2024, they sold the very first Chevy Blazer EV in Connecticut, which was recently named the Motor Trend SUV of the Year.  Since then, they have been stocking up on EV vehicles to have them on-hand and ready to offer customers.  In addition, Richard Chevrolet has chosen to make educating and informing their audience on the benefits of EV vehicles a main mission for their future.

“Our goal is to be your everything EV dealer.  We have always prioritized doing business in a conscientious and responsible way.  Understanding that for many customers EVs seem mysterious and unfamiliar, we want to help people understand and be informed of the many benefits that EVs offer and alleviate their concerns,” stated Owner Jason Vianese.

Currently, as part of their effort to inform the public on the benefits of EVs, Richard Chevrolet is planning to publish articles on their blog, produce videos demonstrating the EV experience, hold events at the dealership, and offer more affordable EV options to customers who want an EV without spending their annual salary to purchase it.

Furthermore, the dealership invested over $1,000 per employee to send the majority of their sales staff to specific EV training offered by General Motors at an off-site location in New York.  There the staff learned all about the technology, features, and benefits of the Chevrolet electric vehicles.  They also had the opportunity to test drive a variety of EVs, including makes and models from competitors, to personally get familiar with the Chevrolet EV driving experience and how it differs from other EVs, as well as internal combustion engine vehicles.

“We offered the special training to all of our sales team, even though we are not obligated to, because we want our whole team to be prepared to answer as many questions our customers have as possible.  We also know that when our team can tell our customers information that comes from experience, from the heart, it is the most valuable information we can provide,” explained Owner Jill Silverman.

Jason added, “We believe that living by example is the best way to show our customers our commitment to protecting our environment, and working honestly and openly with anyone that chooses to visit us.  We at Richard Chevrolet are ready to provide our customers with everything they need and want for the next 50 years, just as we always have for the last 50 years.”

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