Kyle McKinzie is a Duluth, Minnesota native who works as the managing partner of the Kruse Motors Auto Group in Marshall, Minnesota. McKinzie’s career in the auto industry began with mowing lawns and detailing cars; he then progressed to sales. Later, he held various sales and marketing positions at Dealer Teamwork, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that provides innovative digital marketing solutions for retail automotive. Join CBT News anchor Jim Fitzpatrick in an exclusive interview with McKinzie, a recipient of the inaugural CBT News 40 Under 40 awards, to discover his journey in the industry.
Key Takeaways:
1. Kruse Motors Auto Group is approaching its fifth year of operation. McKinzie, one of the managing partners, highlights that the dealership is a family-run business, with him and his two brothers serving as General Managers. His father is currently the CEO of Kruse, his sister manages the books, and his mother handles accessories. McKinzie mentions that his responsibilities as a managing partner at their GM store vary from dealing with a clogged toilet that a customer caused to assisting a customer whose extended warranty did not cover the required repairs.
2. McKinzie attributes his proudest achievement to developing his team members and watching them achieve their own proudest moments. For example, McKinzie helped grow a detailer into a sales manager in only four years. He also notes, “We now have stock of around 180 to 200 used vehicles ever since the pandemic.” He continues, “We have done exceptionally well in maintaining the used car gap, whereas other dealerships have been experiencing some pain points.”
3. In the future, McKinzie hopes that Kruse Motors Auto Group will have the potential to expand to seven or eight stores. While the company operates out of Iowa and Minnesota, the heart of the Midwest, McKinzie believes they are shifting towards electrification with a few EV options. However, he doesn’t consider that the Midwest will become a leader in this revolution.
