Van Nuys, CA — Keyes Automotive Group has opened its new $35 million Keyes European dealership on Van Nuys Blvd. The official opening will take place in January, 2012, but operations have already begun at the new 252,000 sq.ft. Keyes European Mercedes Benz dealership in Van Nuys. Keyes Automotive Group announced the project in June, 2010. The $35 million project was designed to meet LEED certification standards with energy and water consumption reduction systems and environmentally-friendly features incorporated into the design. In addition to the immediate economic impact of the construction, the expanded facility is expected to increase sales by more than 20 percent in the first year with the capacity to increase the dealership’s workforce by 50 percent.
“This investment in the Keyes European facility solidifies our goal to create the finest experience for both our customers and employees,” said Howard Keyes, President of Keyes Automotive Group. “We take pride in taking this sustainable approach to both our business objectives and the environment.” In 2009, Keyes European generated more than $7 million dollars in state and local tax revenue. The Keyes European facility expansion project is the fifth property investment made by Keyes Automotive Group in Van Nuys since 2000. “Keyes Motors has a proud 50-year tradition in Los Angeles,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the guest of honor at the ground breaking ceremony held in June 2010. “It is a testament to their strong business leadership that, despite the recent challenges to the automotive industry, Keyes is able to step forward and contribute to our great City by creating upwards of 75 new jobs.”
The new Keyes European dealership is located at 5400 Van Nuys Blvd. at its former site. Some of the environmental considerations featured in the facility include a storm water filtration system to protect ground water tables; a water recycling system in the car wash area; drought-tolerant landscaping utilizing many of the site’s existing mature trees; roof-top solar panels to create an on-site power generation source, limiting the facility’s reliance on the Los Angeles electrical grid; and LED lighting and low-flow water fixtures. In addition, the construction plan of the facility takes environmental considerations into account. Recycled materials, some of which are sourced from the previous structures occupying the site, were used for many of the building systems to reduce the demand for new raw materials. More than 90 percent of the construction debris has been either repurposed or recycled to significantly reduce the project’s impact on local landfills. Keyes Automotive Group, one of the largest privately held auto dealership groups in the U.S., operates twelve dealerships in Los Angeles, Santa Clarita, Phoenix and Las Vegas. The Keyes Automotive Group proudly sells Audi, Chevy, Cadillac, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Lexus, Mercedes Benz, Nissan and Toyota vehicles with the support of more than 1,100 employees.