Fred Jones to acquire 2 OKC Mazda shops

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Sep 9, 1997 by Bill May Journal Record Staff Reporter

Acting to more closely align itself with Mazda, Fred Jones Automotive Group has reached tentative agreements to acquire Bob Howard Mazda and Powers Downtown Mazda.

"Since Ford Motor Co. has increased its stake in Mazda from 25 percent to 33 percent, we felt it was time to become more closely involved with Mazda," said Boots Hall, president of Fred Jones Automotive Group.

The agreement with Powers Downtown Mazda is a simple purchase. Things are a little more complicated with the Bob Howard Mazda franchise acquisition.

Under the agreement between the two companies, Fred Jones will trade its Nissan franchise for Bob Howard's Mazda franchise. The Mazda shop will move from the Bob Howard Auto Mall to what is now Fred Jones Nissan, 14220 Broadway Extension in Edmond. Meanwhile, Fred Jones Ford of Edmond -- now located across Broadway from the Bob Howard Auto Mall -- will move in with the Mazda staff. The Nissan franchise, after it's acquired by Howard, will be moved to the present Ford location.

After Fred Jones buys Powers Downtown Mazda, that dealership will move to Reno Avenue, just west of Fred Jones Ford.

"This will give us Ford-Mazda in both Edmond and downtown, along with the Lincoln-Mercury dealership downtown," Hall said. "It makes a lot of sense synergistically. It will really help our advertising."

Long a stalwart of Ford and Lincoln-Mercury, Fred Jones acquired the Nissan franchise about four years ago.

Bob Howard could not be reached for comment.

The three transactions are scheduled for consideration today before the Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Commission during its regular meeting. The commission regulates the automobile and light-truck retail industry in the state, licensing dealers, manufacturers, distributors and sales representatives. The commission must give approval for a particular dealer to operate a certain franchise.

None of the dozen other automotive franchises in the Bob Howard Auto Mall, just south of West Memorial Road and Broadway Extension, will be affected by the swap.

Howard also operates a Honda-Acura dealership at 14137 Broadway Extension in Edmond, nearly next door to the new Fred Jones Ford- Mazda.

Fred Jones officials have been managing the Powers Mazda dealership at NW 13th Street and Broadway since Tuesday, said Bill Frost of Powers Downtown Mazda-Hyundai.

He would not disclose details of the agreement, which has yet to be approved by Mazda or the commission.

"Until everything is approved, there can be a lot of changes," he noted.

The deal with the Powers group is expected to be completed within 30 days -- "probably even less," Frost said.

It's not known what will happen to the 50 employees of the Powers Downtown Mazda-Hyundai, or to the Hyundai franchise.

When Powers and Frost acquired Hyundai, it was originally stand- alone dealership on Interstate 40 in Midwest City. "We haven't decided yet what we will do with that franchise," Frost said.

Howard also operates Bob Howard Dodge, 616 W. Memorial Road. The motor vehicle commission was to have considered an application for a change of ownership of that franchise, but that request was withdrawn.

Besides the Nissan shop, Fred Jones Auto Group also operates the two Ford franchises and a Lincoln-Mercury dealership downtown, plus Ford, Lincoln-Mercury and imports in Tulsa and Dallas.

Fred Jones Auto Group is the outgrowth of Rice-Jones Ford of Blackwell, opened in 1920 by Fred Jones and Frank Rice. Jones later acquired full ownership of the franchise and moved it to Oklahoma City.

In 1938, Jones formed the manufacturing company to remanufacture Ford, Lincoln and Mercury parts. That company grew into Fred Jones Industries which two years ago became a public company under the parent of Autocraft Industries. The automotive group continues to be family held.