Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph, made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, on October 9, prompting widespread closures of automotive dealerships across the state. As the storm weakened to a Category 1 and moved inland, industry leaders, including AutoNation Inc., began damage assessments and worked to contact employees.
AutoNation, the largest U.S. auto retailer, closed 38 stores across Florida for 24 to 48 hours due to the storm. CEO Mike Manley announced on October 10 that while some locations suffered wind and water damage, the primary focus was ensuring the safety of employees. “We have made contact with the vast majority of our associates, and we are very thankful that they and their families are physically okay,” Manley said. The company set up a hotline for employees needing assistance and expressed hopes to reopen stores as power is restored and repairs are completed.
The storm caused power outages for over 3.4 million residents across Florida, severely affecting dealership operations. Sonic Automotive temporarily closed 10 stores, including locations in Fort Myers, Clearwater, and Orlando, placing banners informing customers of the closures on their websites. Some stores, like Volkswagen of Fort Myers, were preparing to resume normal business hours by October 11.
Dealerships in areas less impacted by the storm also reported on their status. Ken Ganley Kia in New Port Richey avoided significant damage aside from a temporary loss of power. “We fared incredibly well,” said CEO Ken Ganley, adding that his staff had relocated inventory to safer ground before the storm hit. Similarly, Hendrick Automotive Group reported minimal damage, with its Naples Chevrolet and Bradenton Honda locations affected only slightly.
Manheim auction sites across the state also felt the impact of Hurricane Milton. Manheim Tampa, St. Pete, Fort Myers, and Lakeland canceled sales for the week, while other locations, including Manheim Central Florida and Manheim Orlando, planned to host digital-only sales due to ongoing closures and modified office hours.
Larry Morgan, chairman of Tampa-based Morgan Automotive Group, echoed the sentiment of minimal physical damage but emphasized the significant power outages affecting many of their stores. Thankfully, no injuries were reported among the group’s 8,000 employees.
As Florida’s dealerships work to recover from Hurricane Milton, the priority remains the safety of employees and a swift return to normal operations as power is restored and damage assessments continue.
