Priority Automotive opens Nissan dealership in Williamsburg

Published September 19, 2014 by Robert Powell, III

Chesapeake-based Priority Automotive has opened Priority Nissan in Williamsburg, the company’s third new- car dealership on the Peninsula and its ninth in Hampton Roads. 

The company, which also owns  dealerships in Richmond and Charlotte, N.C., also has plans for additional locations on the Peninsula. They include Priority Collision Center, Priority Certified Used Cars and Priority Value Center, a used-car dealership specializing in “credit-challenged” buyers. 

Priority Nissan Williamsburg is located at the former Casey Used Car Clearance Center at the intersection of Richmond Road and Lightfoot Road. 

The Nissan dealership will undergo extensive renovations, adding service bays, revamping the showroom and offices and bringing the facilities into compliance with Nissan national standards.  Renovations are expected to be finished early next year.

During renovations, Priority Nissan Williamsburg will offer sales, service and parts operations in temporary facilities on the property. 

Jim Hernandez has been named general manager of Nissan dealership.  Hernandez was general manager of Priority Nissan Newport News.  

Priority Automotive was begun in 1999 by Dennis Ellmer with the acquisition of Chevrolet and Toyota dealerships in Chesapeake.

Priority now owns and operates Priority Toyota/Scion, Priority Honda, Priority Chevrolet, Priority Acura, and Priority Hyundai in Chesapeake and the Priority Indoor Super Store in Virginia Beach. 

The company also owns Priority Toyota/Scion, Priority Nissan, Priority VW, Priority Collision Repair Center, Priority Used Car Super Center and Priority Sales and Service Center in Richmond, as well as Priority Honda in Charlotte, N.C ., and Hampton and Priority Nissan in Newport News and Williamsburg.

Priority employs more than 1,000 people.