AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson recently received an award from luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz. Jackson received the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Star Driver Award on Aug. 15. The award is given annually as part of r the Monterey Car Week.
Jackson currently heads AutoNation, largest auto dealer chain in the United States. The 46-year old CEO also served as chief executive of Mercedes-Benz US in the past. Current Mercedes-Benz US CEO Steve Cannon highlighted Jackson's tenure and said that he deserves the awards.
Cannon remembers Jackson as an outspoken member of the Mercedes-Benz top executives during his tenure with the company. He remembered that when he consulted Jackson about an idea that could expand the S Class hybrid power plant, Jackson ditched the proposition citing that it was a very bad idea.
According to USA Today, AutoNation currently sells 28,000 Mercedes-Benz cars on a yearly basis. Jackson even likened his car retail business to Belgium in terms of its sales output.
According to Automotive News, AutoNation sales went up by nine percent in July. This makes it the best July sales record set by the company since 2016.
During his acceptance speech, Jackson remembered his early days highlighting the first car he bought which is a Mercedes-Benz. He added that it was this purchase that launched his career in the automotive business in the 1950's. Jackson said that he was forced to take a job as an apprentice mechanic when his car broke down and he does not possess the technical skills to repair it.
He sent the crowd in laughter when he highlighted that he now drives an S Class car with a V12 engine, one the does not break down.