Donley Auto Group, a family-owned company with Ford dealerships in Mount Vernon, Ashland, Shelby and Galion, has been in business since 1977.
Ryan Sponsler, the president and principal owner, is the brother-in-law of Scott Donley, son of the founder, Robert Donley.
“It’s very family-oriented and family-owned,” marketing director Niki Evanoff told the Mount Vernon News. “Often, you see dealer groups purchase dealerships and the groups aren’t necessarily located anywhere near the dealership. One of the things we’re very proud of is that Mr. Sponslor is local. This is where his heart is.”
It’s an exciting time to be a Ford dealer.
The F-150 pickup, long one of the most popular vehicles in the United States, next year will include an all-electric version — the Lightning — with a range of 300 miles between charges.
“All of the power, just none of the gas,” Evanoff said. “There’s a lot of buzz about it.”
You can reserve one now at Ford.com with a $100 deposit and select your local dealer, she said.
“One of the things that blew me away is that if you lose power to your house, you can use your F-150 as a generator,” Evanoff said. “It will power your house for three days.
“Another model creating a lot of buzz is the new Ford Bronco, which the company resurrected after 25 years. When they decided to bring back the Bronco, they really went all out. This is an off-road vehicle to go off-road, but it’s just as capable to be on the highway and keep your family safe. It’s a very slick-looking vehicle.”
Then there is the classic Mustang, which remains a best seller.
“This is Mustang season,” Evanoff said. “It’s exciting because you don’t sell a lot of Mustangs in the winter. It’s always fun to hear those engines turn on when somebody goes to test drive it for the first time.”
The dealership prides itself on the “Donley Difference,” which includes lifetime powertrain warranties, free oil changes, lifetime car washes, lifetime loaner cars and a loyalty discount rewards program.
