The Head of the Nation’s Top Auto Dealer Talks Most Popular Models, Dream Cars and His Personal Day-to-Day
Nestled in the heart of Newport Beach, Fletcher Jones Mercedes stands as a leader in automotive luxury and exceptional service. Boasting a legacy that spans decades, this exclusive dealership has consistently redefined the standards of customer service and automotive excellence.
Started in 1946 by Fletcher Jones Sr. with just $1,200 and a single used car lot, the brand has evolved into not just a legacy business but a family business. Sitting in the driver’s seat at the Orange County-based dealership is General Manager Dave Gonzalez, whose decades of experience across the automotive industry and the country have propelled Fletcher Jones Motorcars to the forefront of success.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Gonzalez began his career with an entry-level auto sales position as a way to earn money while studying at The University of Toledo. This entry-level position would jump-start his more than 30 years of experience within the fast-paced luxury automotive industry.
Having successfully climbed the ranks at various dealerships and brands from Cleveland to Las Vegas and Northern California to Chicago, Gonzalez ultimately landed with Fletcher Jones Motorcars in idyllic Newport Beach. Having traversed the country and gotten to experience the difference in local customer’s wants and needs, he always had his eye on Southern California. “I finally got to go to heaven,” he said of landing in Newport Beach in 2017.
“I always wanted to live in Southern California since I was in my teens,” he adds. “So that was always a goal. However, the bigger goal was the store, running the number one luxury store in the country.”
Having recently celebrated its 25th consecutive year as the nation’s top Mercedes-Benz dealership, Fletcher Jones Motorcars of Newport Beach continues to lead the way in sales with Gonzalez at the helm. Aiding in their continual success is the greater team’s laser focus on customer service and satisfaction. “That’s one thing about Newport Beach—you just don’t have a demographic like this anywhere else in the country,” says Gonzalez. “The incredible customers that we get to serve every day, they make it a real joy.”
While Fletcher Jones spans the entire spectrum of luxury automobiles, their legacy company does favor the Mercedes-Benz legacy brand. With a storied history that spans over a century, Mercedes-Benz has maintained its prestige as one of the most recognizable heritage brands in the world. The automaker’s continual production of powerful SUVs, stately sedans, high-performance sports cars, and now modern hybrid options embodies the brand’s commitment to quality, luxury, and cutting-edge technology.
Interestingly enough, the Mercedes-Benz staying power always seems to go back to its heritage. “We have the best all-around luxury car in the world: the Mercedes S-Class,” notes Gonzalez. “Many of the families we serve are driving S-Classes, and because of that, their children are driving beautiful C-Classes; it’s a brand that spans generations.”
While the Mercedes S-Class may be the pinnacle of luxury, it is the brand’s streamlined SUVs that have proven to stand the test of time, with the powerful GLE and the slightly more contoured GLC, that have held popularity for the past decade, according to the local Newport Beach consumer’s appetite. Even still, Gonzalez stands out from the pack, relaying that his heart lies with the sleek, sexy sports cars.
“I love sports cars, so the GT models would have to be my personal favorites,” he says. “However, my absolute dream car is an SL from the 1950s.” Today, Gonzalez sticks to his preference and, of course, remains within the Mercedes-Benz family, swapping his day-to-day drive between an SL and a C63.
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Gonzalez’s professional pursuits show a lot of parallels to his personal life, as he’s an avid sports fan and a dedicated loyalist to his hometown teams. While Cleveland has had a tough couple of years in terms of clinching championship titles, he continues to fortuitously support his Cleveland Cavaliers in basketball, Cleveland Browns in football and Cleveland Guardians in baseball.
Having met his personal goal of living in Southern California and his professional goal of serving at the helm of the nation’s top luxury car dealership, Gonzalez remains steadfast in his dedication to upholding the dealership’s legacy of excellence. Through his visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction and passion for the automotive industry, Gonzalez has solidified Fletcher Jones Motorcars‘ position as a beacon of luxury and refinement.
According to Gonzalez, the true power behind the dealership’s performance lies in its people, “I absolutely love the people I work with,” he says. “They are the best in the industry, but even more important than that, they are all high-character people, and we laugh a lot.”
Beyond its role as a purveyor of luxury automobiles, Fletcher Jones Motorcars is deeply ingrained in the fabric of the Newport Beach community. Under Gonzalez’s stewardship, the dealership actively engages in philanthropic initiatives aimed at giving back to the community. From supporting local charities to sponsoring educational programs, Fletcher Jones exemplifies corporate citizenship at its finest, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to making a positive impact beyond its showroom walls.
Showing no signs of slowing down, Fletcher Jones Motorcars’ innovation and adaptability, paired with Gonzalez’s visionary leadership, has steered the dealership through exciting times of change, technological advancements and contemporary trends, always aiming to enhance the consumer experience. Offering sales, service, car washes and even airport shuttle services, Fletcher Jones Motorcars of Newport Beach is open seven days a week and is always eager to welcome in both new and veteran customers under its stellar banner.
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Fletcher Jones Motorcars
3300 Jamboree Rd
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.718.3000
@fjmercedes
