Tuesday, February 18, 2025
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Serving Algoma, Casco, Kewaunee, Luxemburg and all of Kewaunee County

Algoma Motors shifts gears

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A view of Algoma Motors in the 1990s.
A view of Algoma Motors in the 1990s. Jim Rabas photo

By Mickey Schommer

Contributing Writer

ALGOMA – As of last month, Algoma Motors is no longer a GMC franchise affiliate but will continue as a used vehicle dealership. The GMC franchise has been shifted to Patriot Motors in Sturgeon Bay, with whom the Alogma dealership has no association.

The decision to transfer the GMC franchise to Patriot Motors came about because Buick intended to go all-electric in January 2023.

“In this Midwest, northeastern Wisconsin atmosphere — if you want to call it that — people are a little reluctant to buy electric cars,” said Principal Dealer Jim Rabas.

Electric cars are more difficult to drive during harsh Midwest winters and the infrastructure for electric vehicles isn’t readily accessible.

Algoma Motors
When the company first opened in 1937, they offered Hudson Terraplane and Nash vehicles, later adding Pontiac in 1938 and Buick in 1985. Algoma Motors photo

Rabas said after the decision to transfer the franchise was made, “Buick decided ‘Well, we’re still going to build gasoline engines and electric.’ They changed their mind. Then, I had the opportunity to transfer the GMC franchise up to Sturgeon Bay and so I obviously took that opportunity.”

“It appeared that the timing was right to do that,” he added.

This isn’t Algoma Motors’ first big change.

When the company first opened in 1937, they offered Hudson Terraplane and Nash vehicles, later adding Pontiac in 1938 and Buick in 1985.

In 2010, General Motors discontinued the Pontiac line, thus removing it from their dealership, and Buick’s decision to go all-electric pushed Rabas to transfer the GMC franchise to Patriot Motors.

Algoma Motors will continue to service all makes and models.

Rabas is even offering to coach those who need warranty work on their used vehicles, since Algoma Motors can no longer do so under GMC.

Despite the changes, Rabas has no plans of closing the business and looks forward to the evolution of the dealership.

Algoma motors, Kewaunee County, news

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