Karl Tyler got his start in the automobile business in the late 1960s washing cars at a dealership in Moscow, Idaho while attending the University of Idaho. He worked his way up through the ranks from salesman to owner at dealerships throughout Idaho and Washington. Then in 1986, he answered a call from General Motors as they were looking for someone to open a dealership in Missoula. They asked if he was interested and Karl Tyler Chevrolet was born.
Karl Tyler sold the dealership to his children several years ago and is enjoying the well-deserved fruits of his half-century of hard work today, but he remains involved in the day-to-day operations as much as he chooses. Daughter Sandi Tyler and son Kevin Tyler may be at the helm now, but as Sandi says of the family patriarch, “When I have any issues or concerns, Dad is my first call.”
Over the years, the family has expanded operations to other dealerships and businesses. Karl Tyler Volkswagen shares a large corner lot with the Chevrolet dealership on North Reserve Street. Two Express Lube locations can be found in Missoula and one in Hamilton. There is also a Karl Tyler Chevrolet in Lewiston, Idaho where Sandi splits her time with the Missoula location.
Providing impeccable service to their customers is one of the Tylers’ top priorities. Along that vein, they made the decision to replace General Motor’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Program with their own more inclusive Lifetime Warranty Program. According to Sandi, the program was started to help people out of difficult situations and keep them from having costly repairs.
Buy your vehicle at Karl Tyler Chevrolet and you have coverage through the program for the entire time you own it. The program covers all makes of vehicles, not just those of General Motors, with less than 75,000 miles and no more than seven years old. A modest $100 deductible and proof of regularly scheduled maintenance will give you access to repairs on the engine, transmission, transfer case, drive axle, and towing assistance.
This level of service has earned the dealership loyalty among their customers and keeps people coming back year after year. “People come from Idaho—where Dad started—to Missoula to buy cars from us,” says Sandi. “We’re now selling to the grandchildren of people who bought cars from Dad.”
Retaining a great staff that provides that high level of service is also a priority. The Missoula dealership and the Express Lube locations employ a total of 137 people, some of whom have been with Karl since the beginning. Many of the current managers were there when Sandi started working full-time at the dealership in 1993. “Our newest manager just had his eight-year anniversary,” says Sandi.
Like so many businesses, Karl Tyler Chevrolet struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic, but more importantly, they have persevered. It was difficult getting new cars from manufacturers so the demand for used vehicles greatly increased. They often sell a fleet of vehicles to businesses. Where it used to take eight to ten weeks to acquire several trucks it can now take six to nine months. They used to have 600 vehicles on the ground at dealership, and according to Sandi. They currently have only 17 with many being sold before even reaching Missoula.
Sandi says, “I don’t want to complain. The last couple of years have been good, but they’ve been tough. Our customers are still coming back so that part has been really good.” They also were able to retain all of their employees—a remarkable feat when news of layoffs was constant elsewhere.
The Tylers are now looking to the future with plans to grow their service department. They have noticed a lack of trained technicians made worse by the pandemic, so they are working with local high schools and colleges to help provide training to young people interested in a career as an automobile technician. Candidates can shadow experienced technicians and learn the intricacies of the profession.
The future at Karl Tyler Chevrolet will look much the same as it does today, and that’s the best part. Quality products and quality service will remain the norm. Sandi says, “My Dad’s philosophy has always been that your customers and employees are your family, so we need to make sure we’re taking good care of them.”
