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Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson merges with automotive group

Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson has announced its merger with Crown Automotive Group, a prestigious name in the automotive world.

Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson was founded in 2004 with a clear and simple vision to exceed riders’ expectations. Smoky Mountain has expanded to seven locations, set Guinness World Records, and received numerous Bar & Shield recognitions. The company has hosted state, regional, and national HOG rallies, Annual Bike Weeks, and established a renowned restaurant and music venue that draws visitors from around the globe.

Smokey Mountain Harley-Davidson storefront
Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson merged with Crown Automotive Group. Photo courtesy of Smoky Mountain, Google

Crown Automotive Group, founded in 1969 by Dwayne Hawkins, is driven by its core values of Customer Focus, Teamwork, Integrity, and Growth. With over 50 years in the automotive industry, Crown Automotive Group is a privately owned, award-winning dealership group with operations in Florida, Ohio, and Tennessee. Crown Automotive Group has 22 dealerships, 40 brands, and 1,233 employees, maintaining a 4.7 average Google rating. The group continues to expand, offering a vast selection of new, certified, and meticulously inspected pre-owned vehicles with financing options for every budget. Crown Automotive Group has been named a Top Workplace by the Tampa Bay Times for four consecutive years.

Both companies are committed to advancing operations and opportunities, leveraging their industry expertise and operational strengths. By combining their resources and reputations, the merged entity will provide an exceptional range of products, services, and experiences for customers. The partnership aims to inspire and energize communities, creating a positive impact and fostering customer enthusiasm.

“As I reflect on our history, I am proud of our accomplishments,” says Scott Maddux, founder of Smokey Mountain Harley-Davidson. “However, we cannot rest on our achievements. It is now time to take our next step, expand the vision, and set our sights on the next 5, 10, and 20 years of growth and development. For the past three years, I have been working with Crown Automotive Group’s leadership team, founded by my wife’s uncle, Dwayne Hawkins, to compare industries, operational strengths, weaknesses, and future opportunities. As a result, I am thrilled to announce our new partnership with Crown Smoky Mountain. I am totally committed to making this partnership a great one in which both Crown Automotive Group and Smoky Mountain Motor Company can leverage our industry operating histories, reputations, industry experience, and operational and experiential know-how to advance our operations and opportunities going forward.”

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16 Comments

  1. Well their goes another Harley Dealership down the drain. Car Dealerships have no business in the motorcycle business or powersports. They just come in and destroy them. Now you are just another number watch within a year all the top people are gone and you will be purchasing your bike from Clueless Clint.

    1. Not going to be like that, I am the Founder of Smoky Mtn HD and will continue to operate as the Dealer and President. Just a move to improve, see for yourself.

      1. now you just gotta sell premium bikes for that premium prce!! NOT POS that Harley puts together using inferior and cheap parts from CHINA!

        Oh and Thailand now

      2. As somewhere who has bought 2 bikes, tons of gear, countless merch, and is in endless need of service from SMHD….I damn sure hope so.

      3. For how long? For a certain amount of time and then you walk off? I have worked for a Harley dealership which tried to run it like a car lot and it was sad.
        Although I do understand. I can’t imagine the stress factors you have to face being an owner, operator in these times.

    2. Yes, that’s pretty much exactly correct. The other dealers have messed up the auto industry completely with their price gouging their extra price stickers and now the auto dealers are failing because no one has any money or credit to buy their product. An auto dealer came and Daytona Harley literally raised havoc.
      At one local dealer in the Orlando area, nobody seems to ride a motorcycle to work. Parking lot is full of cars and trucks. How is someone that rides to work or drives to work in a car truck get informed me about the motorcycle lifestyle. It’s not gonna happen. The auto dealers need to stay in their lane.

  2. Corporate Harley Davidson is no longer part of the motorcycle community. The loyalty Harley customers have shown to keep the brand alive is lost on executives running the company. Only owners with deep, deep pockets are eligible for franchise ownership and multiple commit to multiple dealership locations. If Harley Corporate could made more money selling cabbage, they would put an HD on it and be in the cabbage business.

    1. Isn’t it sad but true Doug. I’m facing this bitter truth down south in Louisiana as well. Seems Harleys dealerships are losing their roots. I’ve been in the business nearly a decade and it’s trending down fast now.

  3. I, for one of many, have had several encounters/visits at SMHD and his other locations. Scott has built the BEST Harley Davidson Dealership Experience. The staff, the service, the atmosphere, the sales and all the entertainment that goes on is second to none. He only makes wise decisions to create a better experience for his customers and his staff. I’ve always said Harley Corp should have every dealership train at SMHD to see how it’s done. Although I do not believe in everything Harley has done to weaken its brand and loyal customer base, I do believe in Scott and will continue my patronage to his awesome establishments. When 2 of the best icons collaborate on how to move forward in today’s industry to better serve their clients, Trust the Journey.
    Lead, Follow or move out of the way so business owners that care about the communities that surround them can share their insight.
    Congratulations Scott and Thank You and your Teams for providing Best in the Industry Sales, service and entertainment.

  4. If anyone here actually knew Scott personally I think you wouldn’t be so harsh. Clearly nobody that’s commented is a customer of SMHD or you wouldn’t have said anything negative. I’ve known the man for 10yrs. His passion for his business is something you don’t find often. I’ve been in the power sports business myself for over 20yrs as an employee of many owner/operators and Scott by far is the most driven I’ve ever witnessed. Bottom line don’t be so quick to judge what you don’t know

  5. Personally, I don’t blame Scott for doing what he did,I’ve been watching Harley Davidson for several years and can see clearly what they are doing, getting rid of all the independent fearless, even the German idiot running the thing has said he’d rather have 60 owners with 10 dealership each than 600 dealership independently own, Scott knows what’s going on with Harley and where everything is headed,loyalty to the brand means nothing to Harley anymore, just look at what happened in Morristown, the owner had the franchise for 65 year, was one of the owners that help pull Harley out of the junk years, stuck with them threw thick and thin for what, well we know what happened, I personally have no respect for Harley as company but, I do like the motorcycle as a brand except for what they are doing to the new bikes, again, the German guy has said he wants to take Harley into the European era, the bike is a American made bike , keep it that way , dealers should run the dealership’s with no high pressure sale, let the customer decide what they want , not what the auto dealer wants to sell them

  6. I have been a customer of SMHD for over 10 years only because of being close to my home. I hope this helps them out but I doubt it will make much of a difference. Only Dolly at the front door will usually say hello. Couple of bad service experiences and other things that have happened I stay away. Its like a Tourist Trap for Bikers!

  7. Let the old line shops come back for the riders. If Harley doesn’t build one more motorcycle I promise that there will be enough HD’s to go around for decades to come. “Who’s gonna fill their shoes”

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