Family is at the heart of Schimmer Automotive Group

In the Schimmer Automotive Group, family is the heart of the business. The family-owned-and-operated auto group was named Best Car Dealer and for Tori (Schimmer) Winterrose, it speaks to the loyal customers who’ve turned to the auto group for the last seven decades.

Schimmer Automotive Group was named Best Car Dealer and One of the Best Used Car Dealers.

“It’s an honor to have won this award,” Winterrose said. “We’re so grateful to our community, our loyal customers, and especially to our employees who have made this possible. If it weren’t for our team of awesome employees, we would have never ended up on the ballot in the first place. So, a huge thank you to them. I think that winning this award speaks to the strong community presence we have in the area,” she said.

She and her husband, Dan, left their previous careers earlier this year and stepped into new roles at the dealership, marking the fourth and latest generation to serve in the auto group where customer service is a top priority. The family business launched in 1945. Vehicles have changed with each passing year, but the dedication to quality service has remained a constant for 79 years.

In Mendota, Schimmer Chevrolet was the first operation for the family business and remains a top location for new Chevys as well as pre-owned vehicles. The most recent addition to the Schimmer group was the 2020 launch of the Schimmer Truck Center, providing sales and support of Medium Duty trucks, flatbeds, low cab forward, and more.

The Schimmer Automotive Group expanded operations in the 1990s to include Schimmer Ford in Peru, and in 2001, it launched Schimmer Hyundai in Peru. In 2009, the group acquired Valley Ford in Spring Valley, and in 2012, the group acquired R& R Ford in Mendota, now known as Mendota Ford.

Winterrose said the auto group is proud to have a great reputation with the community, whether it’s shopping for a vehicle, providing maintenance, or serving as a workplace for multiple family generations.

“We have generations of families who have worked with us,” she said.

At all four locations, Schimmer’s prides itself on its knowledgeable sales staff, who specialize in new Hyundai, Ford, and Chevrolet vehicles, as well as its efficient and honest finance department, who always work hard to get customers the best deal possible. It’s often said within the Schimmer Automotive Family that the “bread and butter” of the business is their fixed operations, otherwise known as the service and parts departments.

“Our service and parts staff are essential to the success of the business, and they’re often staff members who get overlooked,” Winterrose said. “Everyone knows that dealing with car problems can be a stressful and unpleasant experience, but at Schimmer’s, it’s important to us that this process is as straightforward, timely, and stress-free as possible.”

Just like in the sales department, the service department sees generations of customers come through the door.

“It’s pretty cool to have someone walk in the door looking to purchase a vehicle or have their car serviced and find out that their parents and sometimes even grandparents have been customers at Schimmer’s,” she said.

Community is important to the Schimmer Auto Group. It’s common to see Schimmer employees volunteering their time to support the community by assisting in sports and civic organizations. The Schimmer Auto Group also provides financial support to the community, from the Mendota Sweet Corn Festival to the youth sports and high school programs as well.