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After 115 years, 28 different vehicle franchises and three generations of Smart family ownership, President/CEO J.R. Smart is handing his family's legacy to a new owner. Madison's Smart Motors, founded in 1908, making it one of the longest-running automotive dealerships in the United States, has selected the Anderson Family of Omaha, Nebraska, to continue its long legacy of service to its clients and the community. The sale is effective January 8th. Anderson Family History The Anderson Family entered the automotive business in 1957, when Tal Anderson started working part-time at Baxter Chrysler-Plymouth in Omaha. Tal's work ethic and common sense caught the attention of Johnny Baxter, who eventually made Tal a partner and ultimately sold the dealership to Tal Anderson in 1983. The Andersons retained the Baxter name, both out of respect for Johnny Baxter and understanding the value of continuity in business. That history of honoring the past and service the community made Baxter Auto Group the right owner for Smart Motors. The two families, the Smarts and the Andersons, have much in common, including multigenerational ownership and navigating their way through many obstacles, including gas shortages, wars, a pandemic and supply chain interruptions. "I celebrated my 52nd anniversary at the dealership earlier this year," said Smart. "And while my time is sunsetting at the helm of our family business, I had to ensure my teammates and the communities we serve were well cared for." J.R. Smart The Anderson family has deep roots in the automotive industry and a solid reputation in the communities they serve. "I could have sold the dealership to any number of organizations," said Smart, "but I chose Mickey Anderson and the Baxter Auto Group. Commitment to quality, customer satisfaction and the continuous improvement are our core values and I'm confident they will continue to build off what our family has created since 1908." "We are so pleased, and humbled at the opportunity to carry on the legacy and work of the Smart Family in Madison," said Mickey Anderson. "To build upon that history and commitment to quality is a challenge that we welcome and will be diligent every day to carry on this great tradition." Mickey Anderson, President Baxter Auto Group "At Toyota, we wish Baxter Auto Group a successful entry into the Madison market. They've already proven to be a valuable partner with Toyota dealerships in Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska," said Shane Sizemore, General Manager, Chicago Region, Toyota Motor North America. "We also want to thank the ownership at Smart Toyota for nearly 60 years of automotive excellence. During this time, three generations of Smart family members helped grow the Toyota brand in south central Wisconsin, though award-winning sales, service and extraordinary community involvement. They epitomized Toyota's mantra of 'respect for people' by providing exceptional customer service." Smart Family Legacy The history of the Smart Family's involvement in the automotive industry is a very interesting story. "It seems like every decade or so something throws a wrench into the works," said Smart. "I'd say the very first hurdle my grandfather's new business had to overcome was a lack of inventory... and the cost of a new car." The first car founder O.D. Smart, J.R.'s grandfather, sold was an Apperson Jackrabbit, which he sold out of his father's livery in Waukesha. The Jackrabbit was build by hand, and the car sold for $5,000, which is around $155,000 in 2023 dollars. While the Model T continued to be very popular, Smart Motors sold smaller brands such as Studebaker, Packard, Crosley and Hudson. O.D. Smart focused on educating the community on cars, resulting in him becoming a spokesman of sorts and was often quoted as a "Specialist" in Madison on topics like proper care and general maintenance. That place of prominence continues for Smart Motors to this day. "Starting in 1925, my grandfather's business started to thrive," says J.R. "The business was now in Madison, which made it a central point for people from Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis. Smart Motors was doing quite well." Then in 1929, the stock market crashed, and over the next three years, car sales fell by 75%. Through hard work and ingenuity, O.D. Smart managed to be the only one of the 14 car dealerships in Madison to avoid declaring bankruptcy in the 1930s and 1940s. He accomplished this by moonlighting as a machinist at a local factory to keep the lights on at this dealership. Having survived the Great Depression, O.D. Smart faced a new challenge. World War II. This meant no inventory, as there were no cars manufactured for the public between 1942 and 1945, with all steel and manufacturing capacity being used for the war effort. Again, O.D.'s hard work and creativity kept his dealerships operating during this most difficult of times. Following rapid change in the auto industry in the 1950s, James "F.J." Smart took control of Smart Motors in the 1960s. His ingenuity led to what turned out to be a pivotal decision for the business and the family: Smart Motors became Wisconsin's first Toyota dealer in 1966. "My father was just as innovative as he took a chance on a number of unknows in the automobile industry," said J.R. "He was always able to anticipate the need for a new product or service and make the correct decision." F.J. Smart's decision to partner with Toyota in 1966 paid enormous dividends in the 1970s, when America found itself in a lengthy oil crisis, driving up the price of gasoline and ending Americans' long love affair with very large, gas-guzzling vehicles. Toyota had been a relatively unknown, fuel-efficient brand. The energy crisis drove more demand for more efficient cars, with Toyota taking a prominent role in filling that demand. The Smart and Anderson Families share a long history of community involvement and support. The Smart Family's legacy in Madison included deep involvement in the American Red Cross, the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Research, American Family Children's Hospital and the Susan G. Komen pink lights in October project. The late Tal Anderson founded the Children's Scholarship Fund of Omaha, which provides tuition for at-risk youths who otherwise would not be able to attend private schools. The Anderson Family continues its support of that organization to this day, in addition to its support of a wide range of charities, including The United Way, Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Initiatives, as well as primary, secondary and higher education. About Baxter Auto Group Baxter Auto Group is one of the nation's leading automotive retailing groups, operating 21 automotive retail stores across the Midwest and Mountain regions and representing nine of the nation's top automotive brands, including Toyota, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, INFINITI, Audi, Honda, Subaru, Volkswagen and Ford. Additionally, Baxter takes special pride in being a remarkable employer and supporting efforts to build stronger communities, showing gratitude for all the community has done to support its operations throughout the years.

Local Dealer Buys All Makes and Models. If you’ve ever posted your resume online, you know that rush and sense of excitement when you receive an unsolicited response to it. A recruiter has somehow found you, and you might be a perfect match for a position within the representative’s company or organization. In modern slang, you’ve been headhunted, and it makes you feel like you’re someone special. Employment headhunters are out in full force when there are positions to be filled but few qualified applicants. They scour the online job boards, searching for key words that seem promising. They then invite the presumably qualified jobseeker to apply for an open position. Can this “headhunter” model be modified and utilized by other industries? For Smart Motors Used Cars in Madison Wisconsin the answer is a definite YES! Reduced Production. Low Dealership Inventory. High Consumer Demand It’s no secret there is a new vehicle shortage. New cars, trucks, SUVs and everything in between are in high demand, yet hard to come by, especially if a buyer is looking for immediate gratification. So what is the consumer supposed to do when he or she needs an upgraded vehicle? One easy answer would be to invest in a quality previously owned vehicle, and yet those are not immune to the high demand and low supply economic concept either. To help alleviate the previously owned vehicle shortage, Smart Motors in Madison has taken a proactive stance and has added T.J. Johnson as a “vehicle acquisition manager” to their team. In other words, they hired a headhunter who looks for cars instead of people to fill in the empty spaces. TJ Johnson - Vehicle Acquisition Manager “In Smart Motors’ 113-year history, they’ve never had anyone hired as a vehicle acquisition manager before,” says Johnson, a 40-year veteran in the automotive retail industry. “But in this market, it was necessary to think outside the box, so here I am!” Misconceptions When Selling Your Vehicle Johnson points out there is a widespread misconception if someone wants to sell their vehicle, they’re going to get the most bang for their buck if they sell it outright instead of going through a dealership. “That just isn’t the case right now,” he says. “The market conditions are so strong at this time, people will be surprised how much their vehicle is worth to a trusted dealership like Smart Motors.” Johnson claims a thorough inspection of a vehicle can be done and an offer made in usually less than an hour. Technology Makes Selling Easier for Consumers While it would be ideal for people to simply bring in their used vehicle, Johnson can’t rely on that to keep up with demand for quality previously owned vehicles. He has had to reach out to potential sellers in ways that really haven’t been done before. “In the past, we used to go to only go to auctions to keep our inventory up,” he says. “That’s not enough in this market.” Given this, Johnson, like a headhunter in a tight labor market, has turned to seeking sellers via social media, email and good’ol networking. “We have invested in some new technology giving us some insight into available inventory in the market, plus after 40 years in the business, I have a strong understanding of the types of vehicles people in the Madison-area are most likely to buy,” he says. “When I come across a vehicle we’re interested in, I reach out and explain how Smart Motors might be their best bet to getting a fair price for their vehicle with a process that is fast, easy and doesn’t require the seller to do a lot of extra work.” Used Car Supply. Market Demand & Vehicle Condition Johnson says he also uses the Smart Motors’ website to locate potential sellers and followed up on referrals made by third parties. By having a page on their website specifically devoted to the ease of selling a vehicle to the dealership, it has made things simpler for car sellers. At SmartBuysCars.com, sellers get an instant offer on their vehicle in less than three-minutes and is based on factors such as market demand for their vehicle, the number of vehicles like theirs available in the market and the considerations made to a vehicle’s sellable condition. Instant Offer in less than 3-minutes “SmartBuysCars.com is a great starting point for people to get a good idea of what we will offer them,” Johnson says. “But the best way to get the best price for a used vehicle is to bring ‘er in and let me assess it first-hand.” He has also approached customers of the dealership’s service department while they’re waiting for their car to be serviced. “If I see a vehicle in to be serviced that has potential, you better believe I’m going to talk to the current owner about it,” he says. In today’s tight automotive market, this is one way Smart Motors continues to strive to be proactive in meeting consumer demands. About Smart Motors Smart Motors was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, is the mid-west’s largest hybrid dealer and one of Wisconsin’s largest volume Toyota dealers. Located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume. For more information visit their history page on their website.