GlobeSt.com EXCLUSIVE: Staubach Forms National Auto Service Group

PHOENIX-A first-of-its-kind specialized auto service group has been created by the Staubach Group to handle automotive real estate transactions nationwide.

The new division will provide lease and incentive negotiation, sales advisory, marketing and development consulting services for dealerships, manufacturers and property owners in the automotive industry.

James Mullin, the founder of Mullin Partners Real Estate Corp., which merged in 1999 with Sperry Van Ness, has been hired as executive vice president and national director to head the new group, which will draw on the experience of 90 Staubach brokers nationwide. Among those team members will be Rick Breuer, who has been hired as vice president of Staubach’s West retail region. Breuer will focus on the auto group practice.

“We’ll be able to bring quite a bit of experience to the auto dealer who is looking to increase sales through the relocation of real estate,” Mullin tells GlobeSt.com. “When you take all that experience and put it through the structure of a national company with the quality brokers Staubach has, it’s a very strong machine to provide these services to manufacturers and dealers.”

Mullin said the new auto group will be taking over several projects, including the 90-acre Sacramento Auto Loop being developed by Opus West and the 140-acre San Tan Motorplex in Gilbert, AZ.

Staubach also plans to hold a three-day automotive summit in Phoenix during February to provide other Staubach brokers with educational information that will assist them in carrying out automotive deals. In addition, Mullin said, he intends to hold workshops for brokers in all six Staubach regions. The Dallas-based Staubach will use Phoenix as the base for the new specialty group.

Mullin has done more than $300 million in automotive transactions in nearly 20 years in automotive real estate. He has served automotive clients such as United Auto Group, DMB, Landmark Development, SunCor, Westcor and worked with American Honda Motor Co., Daimler-Chrysler Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. He is also the only commercial real estate representative invited to join the J.D. Power and Associates International Roundtable.

Also a 20-year professional in automotive operations and real estate, Breuer previously served as senior associate with Sperry Van Ness Mullin and was with Mullin Partners Real Estate Corp. Among his automotive clients are American Honda Motor Co., Daimler-Chrysler Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and United Auto Group.