Factbox: As Tesla prepares a Mexico plant, a look at auto plants in Mexico - Reuters

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• Companies

• Tesla Inc
• General Motors Co
• Ford Motor Co
• Toyota Motor Corp
• Stellantis NV

Feb 28 (Reuters) - Mexico has long been a manufacturing hub in North America for multiple automakers, and the country is trying to position itself for the wave of electric vehicles (EVs) to come. The auto sector is a driver of Mexico's major manufacturing industry, which is heavily integrated into U.S. and Canadian supply chains.

Mexican officials on Tuesday said Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) is the latest automaker with plans to build a plant in Mexico.

Here are major automakers with plants in Mexico -

General Motors Co (GM.N)

• Silao Plant in the central city in Guanajuato state, produces Chevrolet and GMC full-size pickup trucks
• Ramos Arizpe Plant in the northern city in Coahuila state, builds the Chevrolet Equinox and Blazer SUVs now and will build the 2024 Blazer EV and Equinox EV
• San Luis Potosi Plant in the state capital of the central state of San Luis Potosi, produces the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain

Ford Motor Co (F.N)

• Cuautitlan Assembly plant in the central city of Cuautitlan Izcalli, produces Ford Mustang Mach-E
• Hermosillo Assembly Plant in the state capital of the northern state of Sonora, produces Ford Bronco Sport and Ford Maverick

Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T)

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California in the northern border city of Tijuana, Baja California, produces the Toyota Tacoma pickup
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Guanajuato in Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato, produces the Toyota Tacoma

Stellantis (STLAM.MI)

• Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant in the state capital of Coahuila, produces Ram light and heavy-duty pickups
• Saltillo Van Assembly Plant, makes the Ram ProMaster van
• Toluca Assembly Plant, produces the Jeep Compass

Nissan Motor Co (7201.T)

• Nissan Mexicana (Cuernavaca) in the central city of Jiutepec, produces NP300 pickup truck
• Nissan Mexicana (Aguascalientes 1 Plant) in the central city of Aguascalientes, produces March, Versa, Kicks
• Nissan Mexicana (Aguascalientes 2 Plant), produces Sentra
• Nissan also has a joint venture plant with Mercedes (MBGn.DE) in Aguascalientes, making the Infinti QX 50 and 55 SUVs, and Mercedes GLB SUV

Honda Motor Co (7267.T)

• Honda de Mexico (HDM) in Celaya, Guanajuato, produces HR-V

Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE)

• Volkswagen de México in Sanctorum, Puebla, produces Jetta, Tiguan, Taos
• VW's Audi unit in San José Chiapa, Puebla, produces Audi Q5 premium SUV and plans to start manufacturing EVs by 2027

Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T)

• Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation (MMVO) in Salamanca, Guanajuato, produces Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda CX-30

Kia America

• Hyundai Motor Co's (005380.KS) Kia has a plant in Pesqueria, Nuevo Leon, produces Kia Forte, Rio

BMW AG

• BMW Plant in San Luis Potosi, produces BMW 3 Series, 2 Series and will produce fully electric "Neue Klasse" models
• SOURCES: Carmakers and Auto Forecast Solutions

Compiled by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Denver police lieutenant Involved in deadly auto-pedestrian crash - CBS News

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CBS News Colorado has learned that a veteran Denver police lieutenant is under investigation after he struck and killed a pedestrian the night of Feb. 21 at the intersection of University Boulevard and Hampden Avenue.

The officer was off-duty and was driving an unmarked Denver police vehicle just after 11 p.m., according to the Colorado State Patrol, which is investigating the accident.

CSP said the pedestrian, a 70-year-old man from Denver, was crossing Hampden but was not in a crosswalk and was about 30 feet east of the Hampden-University intersection. He died instantly.

CBS News Colorado is not identifying the Denver officer since no charges have been filed. CSP said there is no indication of intoxication for either the driver, who stayed on the scene, or the pedestrian.

The lieutenant was driving a 2017 Chevy Equinox and was wearing his seatbelt, according to investigators with CSP.

State troopers did not provide a timeframe on when their investigation would be complete.

Brian Maass

Veteran investigative reporter Brian Maass has broken countless major stories at CBS News Colorado and established a high level of trust and credibility in the community. Read his reports or check out his bio & send him an email.

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State Farm Illinois auto insurance rates rising again - Crain's Chicago Business

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State Farm is raising rates for Illinois drivers it insures by 6.5% on average.

The rate hike, the latest in a series from the state’s largest auto insurer, will add about $58 to the annual premium for the average policyholder, according to a filing with the Illinois Department of Insurance.

Bloomington-based State Farm issues more than 3 million auto policies in the state, insuring about one in every three drivers.

The latest price hike, slated to take effect next month, comes just six months after an 8.4% average increase. That lifted the average annual premium by about $69.

Most auto insurers have been rapidly hiking rates to catch up to inflationary pressures that have made many of them unprofitable on an underwriting basis.

State Farm’s increases are more modest than those by Northbrook-based Allstate, the second-largest Illinois car insurer, and even Chevy Chase, Md.-based Geico, which advertises how cheap it is compared with major rivals.

“As we have previously shared, we are continuously monitoring and adjusting to trends,” State Farm spokeswoman Gina Morss-Fischer said in an email. “Inflationary pressures and supply chain issues, combined with higher claim costs are driving rate changes. We continue to adjust to these trends to make sure we are matching price to risk.”

State Farm also announced its 2022 financial results today, posting a net loss for the year of $6.7 billion, by far its most unprofitable year ever. That compared with a $1.3 billion net profit in 2021.

The company is a mutual insurer, technically owned by its policyholders, and has an enormous surplus. That enables State Farm to absorb billions in losses without worrying about its financial condition or about shareholder reaction.

While many other rival insurers, like Allstate and Geico, say they have pulled back on advertising as they adjust pricing, State Farm has continued to blanket the airwaves with ads featuring “surprisingly great rates.”

The number of State Farm's policies in Illinois has risen over the past year, while Allstate’s and Geico’s have dropped. Nationally, Geico saw its auto policies fall 9% in the year that ended Dec. 31, according to a filing over the weekend by parent Berkshire Hathaway, an unheard-of result from an insurer that has been the fastest growing in the industry over the past two decades.

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NASCAR at Auto Club live updates: Ross Chastain sweeps first two stages - Charlotte Observer

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NASCAR at Auto Club live updates: Ross Chastain sweeps first two stages  Charlotte Observer

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Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway postponed until Sunday – Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site - Jayski.com

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Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway postponed until Sunday – Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site  Jayski.com

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OOOOF: A Game Just Ended on an Auto-Strike With the Bases Loaded - bleachernation.com

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We knew this was going to happen eventually with the pitch clock. I mean, maybe not on the first full day of games, but sometime. AND I WOULD ARGUE that it’s much better to happen today than, say, a month from now when the games count.

It’s the thing everyone dreaded: a game between the Red Sox and Braves just ended on an auto-strike because the batter wasn’t ready in time.

Insult to injury? It was a tie game with the bases loaded:

Nobody could believe it. It looked like the batter, Cal Conley, though he’d just WALKED to win the game on an auto-ball, but it was actually a strike called on him.

Yes, that’s ugly. Nobody wants to see a game actually end like this (or, if this were an MLB regular season game, go to extra innings like that). But there are kinks to be worked out, and players to get accustomed to what they are supposed to be doing. It’ll be OK. But, uh, yeah, that’s bad. On Day One.

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OOOOF: A Game Just Ended on an Auto-Strike With the Bases Loaded - bleachernation.com

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We knew this was going to happen eventually with the pitch clock. I mean, maybe not on the first full day of games, but sometime. AND I WOULD ARGUE that it’s much better to happen today than, say, a month from now when the games count.

It’s the thing everyone dreaded: a game between the Red Sox and Braves just ended on an auto-strike because the batter wasn’t ready in time.

Insult to injury? It was a tie game with the bases loaded:

Nobody could believe it. It looked like the batter, Cal Conley, though he’d just WALKED to win the game on an auto-ball, but it was actually a strike called on him.

Yes, that’s ugly. Nobody wants to see a game actually end like this (or, if this were an MLB regular season game, go to extra innings like that). But there are kinks to be worked out, and players to get accustomed to what they are supposed to be doing. It’ll be OK. But, uh, yeah, that’s bad. On Day One.

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Man arrested for auto theft, burglary while out on bond - WKRN News 2

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Man arrested for auto theft, burglary while out on bond  WKRN News 2

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CPD warning mechanic, auto shops of armed burglaries on Northwest Side - CBS News

Carvana Q4 earnings: Losses widen to $806 million as sales plunge - Automotive News

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Carvana Co. said Thursday it recorded a net loss of $806 million in the fourth quarter, bringing its overall financial losses in 2022 to $1.6 billion.

The company's growing tide of red ink caps off a year of inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, reductions in profit per vehicle and fluctuations in consumers' used-vehicle demand — all a collective blow to Carvana.

The online used-vehicle retailer reported revenue of $2.8 billion in the fourth quarter, down 24 percent compared with the same period a year earlier. For all of 2022, Carvana reported revenue of $13.6 billion, up 6.2 percent from 2021.

The Tempe, Ariz., company sold 86,977 vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2022, down 23 percent. The profit it made per vehicle retailed tumbled 51 percent to $2,219, down $2,347 from the fourth-quarter 2021 figure. 

For the full year, Carvana sold 412,296 vehicles, down 3.0 percent from 2021. Its yearly per-vehicle profit was $3,022, down $1,515 from 2021.

"From a short-term perspective, it was clearly a very difficult year," Carvana CEO Ernie Garcia and CFO Mark Jenkins wrote in a letter to shareholders. "After eight consecutive years of annual improvement, it was the first year we stepped back on the key metrics of retail units sold, total GPU, net income margin and adjusted EBITDA margin."

During Carvana’s Thursday earnings call, Jenkins said the company expects to sell fewer vehicles in the first quarter of 2023 than it did in the fourth quarter of 2022 as it normalizes its inventory size, optimizes marketing spend and works to make progress on its profitability initiatives.

Carvana reduced its inventory by 27 percent in the fourth quarter, and it expects to continue slimming inventory in the first quarter, according to the letter to shareholders.

It doesn’t expect to see “meaningful gains” in retail gross profit per vehicle sold in the first quarter, though benefits of reducing inventory size could “become apparent” in later quarters, according to the letter.

Carvana said it is aiming to reduce its selling, general and administrative expenses by about $100 million by the second quarter. Those reductions will be “broad-based," but the company does not expect a workforce reduction as part of that plan, according to the letter.

Carvana shares fell 3.8 percent to $9.69 in after-hours trading.

The company is No. 2 on Automotive News' most recent list of the top 100 retailers ranked by used-vehicle sales, retailing 425,237 used vehicles in 2021.

• Q4 net revenue: $2.8 billion, down 24 percent from $3.75 billion in the year-earlier period.
• Q4 net income: $806 million loss attributable to Carvana, compared with an $89 million loss attributable to Carvana in the year-earlier period.
• Q4 retail vehicles sold: 86,977, down 23 percent from 113,016.
• Q4 total gross profit per vehicle: $2,219, down 51 percent.
• 2022 net revenue: $13.6 billion, up 6.2 percent from $12.8 billion in 2021.
• 2022 net income: $1.6 billion loss attributable to Carvana compared with a $135 million loss attributable to Carvana in 2021.
• 2022 retail vehicles sold: 412,296, down 3 percent from 425,237 sold in 2021.
• 2022 total gross profit per vehicle: $3,022, down 33 percent from $4,537 in 2021.

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February Auto Sales Rise; Inventory Higher, But Still Thin - Forbes

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Thanks to better availability of new vehicles, forecasters expect around a 5% gain in U.S. new-vehicle sales in February, vs. February 2022.

February would be the seventh month in a row that new-vehicle sales are modestly higher than the same month a year ago, according to analysts for S&P Global Mobility.

For the month, that would be U.S. new-vehicle sales of about 1.1 million car and trucks combined, says S&P Global Mobility.

Separately, Cox Automotive reports a similar February auto sales forecast, which by their reckoning would be up about 4% vs. February 2022.

Cox Automotive said last month the U.S. industry finished 2022 with new-vehicle inventory of about 1.8 million cars and trucks. That’s 66% higher than a year ago, which sounds like a lot, but it’s but still far below around 3.5 million, at the end of 2019.

Analysts blame plant shutdowns in the early part of the pandemic, followed by supply-chain problems, especially a lack of computer chips. The computer chip shortage remains in 2023, but not as severe.

Automakers that report monthly sales are due to report February sales on March 1, according to Autodata Corp.

The positive monthly sales trend is an encouraging sign for auto sales and for continued consumer demand.

When new-vehicle supplies were even lower, the auto industry pretty much took consumer demand for granted, and cut back drastically on discounts. As new-vehicle supply has improved, the auto industry has begun to fret about how strong and how long consumer demand will continue.

New-vehicle prices remain high by historical standards. There’s also a lot of concern around higher interest rates and the U.S. economy in general. So within the auto industry, there’s a lot of concern about consumer demand.

The expected February improvement is about in line with expectations for the full year. For all of 2023, S&P Global Mobility forecasts sales volume of 14.8 million, up 7% vs. 2022.

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Dwayne Killian Permanently Removed From Tri-County Auto Theft Unit - Patch

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JOLIET, IL — Retired Joliet Police Department Sgt. Dwayne Killian has been "permanently removed" from the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit after Killian was found keeping a forklift on his rural Kendall County property, according to minutes of a public meeting held in Springfield.

During that meeting, Joliet Police Sgt. Ed Grizzle informed fellow police officers and prosecutors from across Illinois that Killian had been keeping a forklift that was previously seized by the Illinois State Police, and awarded to the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit in 2012.

A few years ago, Grizzle and current Joliet Police Detective Cris Gombosi began to go through the inventory of the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit property, and they learned that some equipment was sold off in accordance with state seizure laws and after conversations with the Will County State's Attorney's Office, last year's meeting minutes show.

Find out what's happening in Jolietwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On Wednesday, Joliet Patch broke another exclusive story, revealing Killian, who is the father of three sons who are current Joliet police officers, has retained Plainfield lawyer John Schrock to pursue legal action against the city of Joliet and the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit in connection with Killian's arrest on June 14, 2022.

Killian's legal action at the Will County Courthouse is considered a precursor to filing a civil lawsuit.

Find out what's happening in Jolietwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I wish to pursue a Civil Rights Action for my unlawful arrest on June 14, 2022, against any officers that arrested me and against any officers that made any false police reports that I have concealed theft," Killian's court filing states. "The city of Joliet and or Tri-County Auto Theft Unit are in possession of reports ... concerning my arrest on June 14, 2022."

Dwayne Killian joined Joliet's Police Department in 1986, and he retired in 2017 after 30 years of service. Image via City of Joliet

On Thursday, Joliet Patch learned that Grizzle spoke during a public meeting on July 26, 2022, at the Illinois State Library in Springfield and Killian's name became the key topic of discussion during a large portion of the meeting.

For background, everyone was made aware that Killian had served as director of the Tri-County Auto Theft unit until 2017, when he retired from Joliet police. Gombosi became the new director, and Killian went back to being a deputy director.

Two years later, in 2019, Joliet Police Grizzle took over the director role. That same year, Killian's title with Tri-County became director of administration.

Last July, Grizzle told everyone in Springfield that Gombosi had told him about a forklift that was kept at the old Joliet steel mill property, back when the Illinois State Police were also part of the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit. Although Grizzle could not find the forklift, he later verified the forklift was awarded to Tri-County Auto Theft Unit, the meeting minutes reflect.

"Upon speaking with Mr. Killian, it was verified that Mr. Killian had the forklift in his possession," Grizzle told everyone at the meeting in Springfield.

Grizzle said he informed Killian to return the forklift, and Killian did not do so, according to the meeting minutes. At that point, Grizzle met with the Tri-County Auto Theft police board that is made up of several area prosecutors, sheriffs and police chiefs from Will, Grundy and Kankakee Counties.

A decision was made for the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit to pick up the property and "Mr. Killian was arrested by the Joliet Police Department and has been permanently removed from TCAT," Grizzle announced at the Springfield meeting.

Retired Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne Killian retained Plainfield lawyer John Schrock to pursue litigation against the city of Joliet and the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit.

In addition, Grizzle told everyone that Joliet's police chief, Bill Evans, asked Grizzle to continue his criminal investigation. The public meeting where Grizzle discussed Killian's June 2022 arrest and permanent removal from Tri-County was for the Illinois Vehicle Hijacking & Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention & Insurance Verification Council.

The Tri-County Auto Theft unit has received annual state grant funds to fund their operations.

During the meeting, Shorewood Police Chief Phil Arnold asked how Killian was being paid and what was Killian's relationship with Tri-County Auto Theft after Killian retired as a Joliet police sergeant in 2017 after 30 years of service.

According to Grizzle, Killian was "written in" as personnel in 2019, and he became a part-time city of Joliet employee. Given Killian's ouster, Peoria County State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos asked if Grizzle was comfortable that all the property is accounted for.

Retired Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne Killian retained Plainfield lawyer John Schrock to pursue litigation against the city of Joliet and the Tri-County Auto Theft Unit.

The minutes show that Grizzle indicated the Tri-County Auto Theft unit knew about all the property they currently have. The agency is based in Joliet, with an office building on Joliet's near west side.

Matt Gall, of Country Financial, asked if the forklift was the only equipment that had been unaccounted.

Grizzle said there was also a trailer used to move the forklift, the meeting minutes show.

As for the value of the forklift, Grizzle said it was worth around $3,000. Tri-County planned to sell it since they work with an auction house and then the funds are deposited into Tri-County's bank account.

Before the discussion about Killian ended, one of the program directors told everyone that about seven years earlier, in 2015, about a half dozen police auto theft task forces across Illinois all lost funding and when they closed, their confiscated property was sent to the remaining units.

As a result, Tri-County Auto Theft became the last unit remaining open and property from other agencies got sent there, according to the meeting minutes.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Dwayne Killian Pursues Lawsuit V. Joliet, Tri-County Auto

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BPD searching for 2 suspected of auto theft, arson on Isla Verde Street - KGET 17

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BPD searching for 2 suspected of auto theft, arson on Isla Verde Street  KGET 17

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The EV Question for Auto Executives: How Fast to Make the Shift? - The Wall Street Journal

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Worthington Ford sold to Costa Mesa-based auto group, ending an era - Long Beach Press Telegram

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The wacky TV commercials are burned into our memory.

Who could forget Cal Worthington and his “dog” Spot, which was never a dog, but more often a tiger, hippo, or chimpanzee?

The ads were intentionally cheesy. But Worthington — whose empire of auto dealerships once numbered nearly 30 stretching from Alaska to Texas — was laughing all the way to the bank. And the last remnant of that empire is about to wind down.

Worthington died in 2013 at the age of 92, and grandson Nick Worthington, who currently serves as dealer/president of the company, has announced that Worthington Ford in Long Beach has been sold to the Nouri/Shaver Automotive Group.

The deal is set to close Tuesday, Feb. 28 and the dealership’s new name will be BP Ford. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Cal Worthington’s late night TV commercials always included a catchy jingle and featured his “dog” Spot, which was never a dog, but more often a tiger, bear, hippo or chimpanzee. (Photo courtesy of Worthington Ford)

“It was not an easy decision,” Worthington said. “We got offers all the time when we had multiple stores and this was not a decision we made lightly. But the right group came along that seemed like a great fit for the employees.”

All of the dealership’s 130 employees who wish to stay on will be retained, although they will have to reapply for their jobs.

“It’s a new company so they have to do that,” said Worthington, 37, who lives in Newport Beach. “It was important to us that they keep all of the employees with the same benefits. And it’s good for the city of Long Beach, too. This group is very interested in high-volume sales, so the city will see excellent revenue.”

City Councilman Daryl Supernaw said Worthington Ford has been a strong economic force in the city, and he’s glad the dealership will remain intact with its current workforce under new ownership.

17 dealerships

With the acquisition of Worthington Ford, Costa Mesa-based Nouri/Shaver Automotive Group will own 17 Southern California dealerships in such communities as Van Nuys, Chino Hills, Huntington Beach and Anaheim.

CEO Armina Mgerian, who is also a partner with the company, said Nouri/Shaver was formed in 2015 when Bob Nouri sold his 20 dealerships in Oklahoma to move to Southern California to be with his mother who was ill.

Armina joined the company in 2018 as chief financial officer before being promoted to CEO and Peter Shaver was brought on board in 2019.

“When we started this new company we were looking for dealerships that were in the right areas but weren’t performing well based on sales volume,” Mgerian said. “But this has been a legacy operation. We also acquired Winn Chevrolet in Carson in November.”

Some Cal Worthington history

Cal Worthington’s rise to success was circuitous but as full of adventure as a Hollywood movie.

Born Nov. 27, 1920 in Bly, Oklahoma, Worthington grew up dirt poor as one of nine children. Dropping out of school at the age of 13, he secured his first job working as a water boy on a road construction crew for 15 cents an hour.

RELATED: Hundreds pay tribute to Cal Worthington at memorial service in Santa Ana

At the start of World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp and saw combat as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot. He rose to the rank of captain, was awarded the Air Medal five times and also received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Worthington had hoped to become a commercial pilot but couldn’t because didn’t have a college degree. He later sold used cars in front of the post office in Corpus Cristi, Texas, and it was there that he began to perfect the folksy sales techniques that would ultimately catapult him to success.

In 1949 he moved to Huntington Park where he established the Hudson Motor Car Co. That eventually morphed into the Worthington Dealership Group, which saturated late night TV with Cal Worthington commercials.

Worthington’s first franchise car dealership in Los Angeles was founded in1951 and the Ford location in Long Beach was purchased in 1974.

Worthington went on to expand his auto empire to such far-flung locales as Anchorage, Alaska, Reno Nevada, Sacramento and Houston, among others.

Nick Worthington, who had been Worthington Ford’s general manager before taking the helm as dealer/president when Cal Worthington died in 2013, has fond memories of his grandfather

“I would describe him as one of the most charismatic people you’d ever meet,” he said. “When he met people he would immediately connect with them on a one-on-one level.”

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