ALBANY, N.Y. — Auto/Mate Dealership Systems will open a new office in Chandler, Ariz., in late Q2 of 2019, the company announced. Executives said the West Coast expansion is in response to the “rapid growth” Auto/Mate has experienced since a planned acquisition by CDK Global fell through in March 2018. Since that announcement, pent-up demand for Auto/Mate’s DMS by auto dealers has spurred double-digit growth in new orders and installations, said Mike Esposito, the company’s president and CEO.

“Although we’ve had a record year, we are growing the company in a controlled manner to ensure that our dealers continue to receive the top-rated support we’re known for,” Esposito said. “That said, we’re already in 49 states, and with increased demand in the midwestern and western regions, it’s time we had a presence there.”

The Chandler office will be staffed primarily with customer support and installation teams, and Auto/Mate anticipates hiring 15 to 20 people by years’ end. In addition, at least seven employees at the Albany, N.Y., office have volunteered to transfer to Arizona.

“The thing that really drives us is our culture. Our customers, vendors and employees all love Auto/Mate’s culture, so that’s an important priority for us. Having a team of current employees relocate will help transfer that culture to the new office,” said Esposito, noting that, in New York’s capital region, Auto/Mate has been recognized as a “Best Place to Work” nine years straight, and a “Top Workplace” eight years in a row. “Our philosophy is simple. If you have happy employees, you have happy customers.”

Visit Auto/Mate at Booth 2301S at NADA Show 2019.