Hendrick Automotive Group Arrives in Columbia

Few names in the automotive industry resonate more than Hendrick. What started with a young man’s passion for cars ultimately led to one of the greatest success stories in the world of automobiles.

The story of Hendrick Automotive Group begins on a farm in Palmer Springs, Virginia, long before our first dealership opened its doors. Our founder and CEO, Rick Hendrick, is a self-described “gearhead” who spent his childhood and teenage years working on, restoring, and racing different vehicles with his father, “Papa Joe.” At just 14 years old, he rebuilt a 1931 Chevrolet, which he still owns today and considers one of his most prized possessions.

After high school, Hendrick moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, to pursue a co-op program with North Carolina State University and Westinghouse Electric Corp. Although he studied to become a tool and die maker, his passion for cars remained. While in Raleigh, he partnered with established dealer Mike Leith to open a small used car lot and quickly proved his knack for the business. At the age of 23, Leith named Hendrick the general sales manager of his new car import operation, and the rest was his history. Hendrick fell in love with the automotive business.

A few years later, Hendrick received his first ownership opportunity after catching the attention of General Motors executives. A chronically troubled Chevrolet store in Bennettsville, South Carolina, needed new leadership. The venture was daunting, however. It would make Hendrick the youngest Chevy dealer in the country, and success was not guaranteed in the small agricultural town located about two hours northeast of Columbia.

In 1976, 26-year-old Hendrick and his wife Linda sold everything they owned to purchase the dealership. Hendrick’s leadership and people-first approach quickly transformed the once-struggling dealership into the region’s most profitable.

The win in Bennettsville paved the way for another significant moment in company history. In 1978, Chevrolet supported Hendrick in purchasing City Chevrolet, a large and reputable dealer in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hendrick’s influence was felt immediately as the dealership experienced a dramatic sales increase to become the No. 1 volume Chevrolet dealership in the Carolinas. City Chevrolet would go on to become Hendrick Automotive Group’s flagship location.

The early successes in Bennettsville and Charlotte were precursors to 45+ years of expansion and growth across the country, ultimately setting the stage for the Hendrick Automotive Group that exists today.

Since 1976, Hendrick Automotive Group has grown to become the largest privately held automotive retail organization in the country, with 97 dealership locations, 21 collision centers, and four accessories distributor installers across 13 states. In 2024, the company generated over $13.6 billion in revenue after selling more than 206,000 vehicles while servicing 2.6 million cars and trucks.

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hendrick Automotive Group currently employs over 11,000 teammates all working toward a shared goal of being the premier quality vehicle retailer in the world, led by Mr. Hendrick as chairman and CEO.

A Proud Return

Columbia, South Carolina, holds an important place in the Hendrick Automotive Group story. In 1979, the company opened Rick Hendrick Honda Cars, our third dealership overall and first in the state of South Carolina.

At the time, Honda was struggling in the Columbia market, and many considered the venture a financial risk. But where others saw a challenge, Mr. Hendrick saw an opportunity.

Rick Hendrick Honda Cars was South Carolina’s first freestanding Honda dealership. For decades, the dealership served as a manufacturer showcase and a facility benchmark for company growth and expansion across the United States.

The dealership operated for over 30 years. Today, nearly 25 years later, Hendrick Automotive Group is proud to return to Columbia with the opening of Hendrick Chevrolet and Hendrick GMC. With these additions, we now operate 13 dealerships across South Carolina, with additional locations in Charleston, Easley, and Rock Hill.

Much has changed since our company’s first chapter in Columbia. We’ve grown, evolved, and taken numerous steps to improve the customer experience. We look forward to deepening our ties and providing world-class vehicle sales, service, and care to the Midlands.

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