03 November 2011

The six Basil brothers are busy people.

But each month, they get together for a "B-6" meeting, to discuss how their parts of the Basil Automotive Group are performing and to strategize.

The Basils say this collaborative approach has served them well as their auto group has grown. Five of the brothers own dealerships; one brother sold his dealership but still participates in the group.

Six separate dealerships owned at one time by six brothers may be unprecedented, anywhere.

"It's not that unusual to have multiple family members running different dealerships," said David Hyatt, vice president of public affairs for the National Automobile Dealers Association. "For the most part, these are Main Street family businesses. But this is the first time I've ever heard of six brothers running six dealerships."

Talk to the Basil brothers about the car business, and lessons from their father, Joseph Basil Sr., frequently come up. They each credit him with opening the door to their careers.

"I think the biggest asset is we are all independently owned and yet we all work together so well," said Michael Basil, 54, who owns a Toyota dealership in Lockport. "That's really what our strength is in the marketplace. It's very tough to find a family this large that can work together and also play together, and I think that's what the benefit is."

The Basil Automotive Group consists of four new car dealerships and four used-car "resale" centers, from Lockport to Fredonia, employing about 500 people. This year, the group expects to sell about 18,000 new and used vehicles. The Basils have spent more than $10 million on facilities since 2008, and say their sales have remained strong through the economic downturn.

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27 September 2011

Audubon Machinery Corp. sees a bright future for electric cars and wants to tap into the business of recharging them.

The North Tonawanda-based manufacturer is making electric vehicle charging stations that draw their power from solar and wind energy produced on-site.

"That's really our angle," said Joseph M. McMahon, Audubon's president. "There are other manufacturers out there that are offering just a charging station that plugs into the grid. Our angle is to tie the renewable energy-producing gear to the charging stations."

Audubon's systems, which come in 120- and 240-volt versions, are not designed for use in homes. "Our target market is going to be other businesses, other factories, other companies that would like to make an environmental impact and provide similar stations either for their employees or their customers," McMahon said.

The company has two charging stations at parking spaces at its plant on Wurlitzer Drive, with power supplied by a wind turbine and a solar array on the roof. Any Audubon employee who buys an electric vehicle can charge it for free during working hours.

Audubon showcased its technology Monday with help from Joe Basil Chevrolet in Depew, which brought in three Chevy Volt extended-range electric vehicles for display and test drives.

James D. Basil, the dealership's president, predicted that charging stations will become more commonplace as electric vehicles gain acceptance. "You're going to see those in malls, theaters, schools, businesses."

Electric-powered vehicles such as the Volt and the Nissan Leaf are trying to win favor in the U.S. market. Both the Volt and the Leaf have recorded modest sales so far. Nissan reported selling 1,362 Leafs in August. GM sold 302 Volts, with sales hampered by a temporary plant shutdown. But both manufacturers are pledging to step up output, as they expand the sales territory for their vehicles.

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