h1>
Our Timeline
Explore highlights since our founding.
1966 — The Beginning
After seven years as a District Manager for Chevrolet Motor Division in Chicago, Joe Van Horn set out to fulfill his lifelong dream of owning a dealership. Following the passing of William Wagner, owner of Wagner Chevrolet in Plymouth, Wisconsin, the opportunity arose. Joe, his wife Kay, their five children—and another on the way—moved from Palatine, Illinois, to Plymouth. On January 1, 1966, Joe Van Horn Chevrolet was officially established. Joe worked bell-to-bell, six days a week, building sales, service, and a reputation for integrity to provide for his family and serve the community.
1977 — A New Location
As the business grew, the original facility could no longer meet demand. Construction began on a new Chevrolet dealership on the east side of Plymouth, offering improved visibility and easier access for customers. The new location featured a larger showroom, increased service capacity, and a dedicated body shop—positioning the dealership for long-term growth and expanded opportunity.
1984 — Remembering Tom Van Horn
Joe and Kay’s second eldest son, Tom Van Horn, was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Tom had worked at the dealership since eighth grade, detailing and rustproofing vehicles. After attending St. Norbert College, he attended Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, where he specialized in automotive education and graduated at the top of his class in 1979. Tom rose to Sales Manager and was responsible for much of the dealership’s recent growth. His leadership, ambition, and passion left a lasting impact on the organization.
1987 — Second Dealership: Chuck Van Horn Dodge
The purchase of Hub City Dodge from Merlin and Vi Gutschow marked Van Horn’s first expansion beyond Chevrolet. Renamed Chuck Van Horn Dodge, the dealership was led by Joe and Kay’s youngest son, Chuck, who began working at the Chevrolet dealership in eighth grade detailing cars and later selling vehicles during summers while attending St. Norbert College. After graduating in 1982, Chuck continued working alongside his father, fully committed to the automotive business.
1988 — Wieland Oldsmobile
Frank Bernard Oldsmobile in Sheboygan was purchased and operated by Dan Wieland, son-in-law to Joe Van Horn and husband of Joann Van Horn, the oldest of the Van Horn children. This acquisition expanded the family business into Sheboygan and strengthened its foundation as a multi-location operation guided by family leadership.
1990 — Hyundai Arrives in Sheboygan
Hyundai, then a new and relatively unknown brand in the U.S., was added to the Oldsmobile dealership in Sheboygan. The brand gradually gained attention and momentum, proving to be a valuable long-term investment. In 2000, Dan Wieland retired and sold the dealership to Chuck Van Horn, keeping the business within the Van Horn family.
1994 — Dodge Dealership Fire
An electrical fire caused significant damage to the downtown Chuck Van Horn Dodge location. While devastating, the event became a turning point. The decision was made to construct a new dealership on Plymouth’s east side next to Joe Van Horn Chevrolet. The former downtown location was later repurposed and is now home to the Plymouth Arts Center, continuing to serve the community.
1995 — Teresa Van Horn Named Dealer
After working for her father since grade school, Teresa Van Horn was named dealer at Joe Van Horn Chevrolet as Joe stepped back from daily operations. Teresa graduated from St. Norbert College in 1984 and completed the Chevrolet Dealership Management Academy in 1987. Her appointment marked the transition to the next generation of family leadership.
1996 — End of an Era
Joe Van Horn passed away on February 2, 1996, having fulfilled his dream of owning and operating a successful dealership. His work ethic, passion for the automotive business, and commitment to family values remain at the core of Van Horn Automotive Group. Joe’s wife Kay passed away on April 15, 2002. While not directly involved in daily operations, her support at home and in the community was instrumental to the family’s success.
2002 — Hyundai Added in Fond du Lac
J.P. Van Horn partnered with his brother Chuck to bring a Hyundai franchise to the west side of Fond du Lac. This expansion was driven by the growing success of the Hyundai brand in Sheboygan and marked continued strategic growth for the group.
2009 — Chrysler and Jeep Added
The opportunity arose to acquire the Chrysler and Jeep franchises from Wolf’s Chrysler-Jeep in Plymouth. Adding the two brands to Chuck Van Horn Dodge rounded out the full Chrysler lineup and enhanced the dealership’s offering.
2010 — Sheboygan County Budget Auto
Sheboygan County Budget Auto opened at the former Wolf’s Chrysler building on Highway 23 in Plymouth. It became the first Van Horn dealership dedicated exclusively to used vehicles, creating new market opportunities and increased flexibility for customers.
2012 — Mazda Comes to Sheboygan
Chuck Van Horn purchased a Mazda franchise and added it to the Hyundai location on Wilgus Avenue in Sheboygan. Mazda’s emphasis on fuel efficiency and driving enjoyment, highlighted by SKYACTIV Technology, complemented the existing brand mix.
2012 — Dane County Auto
Chuck and J.P. Van Horn partnered once again to purchase the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram franchises from Kayser Automotive in Stoughton, just outside Madison. This acquisition expanded Van Horn’s presence into Dane County.
2014 — Van Horn Automotive Group Formed
Prior to 2014, Van Horn dealerships operated independently. To support continued growth, all locations were brought together under one umbrella—Van Horn Automotive Group. The executive team was led by President Richard Strong, with Chuck and Teresa Van Horn serving as co-CEOs. This structure created consistency, shared best practices, and a unified commitment to customer experience.
2015 — First Chrysler in Manitowoc
Van Horn purchased First Chrysler in Manitowoc from the Kornely family, adding a third Chrysler franchise to the group. The location also featured a body shop, expanding collision repair options for customers.
2016 — Employee Ownership Begins
While exploring succession planning, co-owner Chuck Van Horn established an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The plan provided a 30% ownership stake for all full-time employees at no out-of-pocket cost. Ownership is held in trust, with value tied to company performance—making Van Horn Automotive Group the only employee-owned auto group in Wisconsin at the time.
2016 — First Ford Dealership
In October 2016, Van Horn purchased Jack Safro Ford of Oconomowoc, marking the group’s first Ford dealership and continued brand diversification.
2017 — Second Ford Dealership
Following the Oconomowoc acquisition, Van Horn Automotive Group purchased Ernie Von Schledorn of Lomira. Its Highway 41 location provided greater access to the Fox Valley market.
2017 — Expansion into Iowa
Van Horn expanded beyond Wisconsin by purchasing Grovert Chevrolet and Schallau Ford in Iowa. The dealerships were consolidated into a single location in Newhall, just west of Cedar Rapids. Notably, Schallau Ford had previously been located in Van Horne, Iowa.
2017 — Van Horn Latino
After operating for years on Milwaukee’s north side as a used vehicle dealership, Van Horn Latino relocated to a newly remodeled facility on the south side. With a bilingual team, the dealership is dedicated to serving the Latino community and providing culturally informed automotive care.
2018 — Nissan Added
Van Horn purchased Nissan of Stevens Point from Home Run Automotive Group. This marked the group’s first Nissan franchise and its northernmost location.
2018 — New Look for Stoughton
The Dane County Auto location underwent renovations to align with FCA brand standards. Updates included interior and exterior improvements, energy-efficient lighting, and the addition of a quick-service lane.
2018 — South Side Sheboygan Expansion
Van Horn purchased a dual Nissan and Volkswagen dealership from Russ Darrow, adding its second Nissan franchise and first Volkswagen location.
2018 — Iowa Expansion Continues
Van Horn acquired Alfa Romeo and FIAT from Zimmerman Auto. The dealership featured high-line vehicles in a retrofitted former Hummer facility, adding unique offerings to the Iowa market.
2019 — ESOP Company of the Year
The Wisconsin Chapter of the ESOP Association named Van Horn Automotive Group its 2019 Company of the Year, recognizing excellence in employee ownership, communication, and commitment to ESOP principles.
2019 — Remembering J.P. Van Horn
James “J.P.” Van Horn passed away on October 6, 2019. Son of founder Joe Van Horn, J.P. joined the family business in 1997 after a successful career as a commodities broker and member of the Chicago Board of Trade. He is remembered for his partnership with Chuck and Teresa and his dedication to the business. J.P. is survived by his wife Liz and sons Everett and Joe.
2020 — Niesen Takes the Helm
At the start of 2020, Jeff Niesen was named President of Van Horn Automotive Group, succeeding Dick Strong, who remained with the organization as Chief Operations Officer. The appointment marked a meaningful continuation of family leadership, as Jeff is the son of the late Tom Van Horn. Following in his father’s footsteps, Jeff also graduated from Northwood University with a degree in Automotive Marketing & Management. Like many in the Van Horn family, his career began early – detailing vehicles at age 15 and steadily working his way up. Jeff’s first and most immediate challenge as President was guiding the organization through the unprecedented disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, a test of leadership that reinforced the group’s resilience and people-first values.
2020 — New South Side Hyundai Facility
Van Horn relocated the Hyundai franchise from Sheboygan’s north side to a new, energy-efficient facility on the south side, adjacent to Nissan and Volkswagen. The 16,000-square-foot building featured expanded service capabilities and modern amenities.
2020 — Ford and Kia Added
Van Horn purchased Brantmeier Ford Kia in Sheboygan. This acquisition introduced the group’s first Kia franchise and expanded Van Horn’s presence to 12 factory brands in Sheboygan County.
2021 — Big Brothers Big Sisters Partnership
Van Horn announced an expanded partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters across eight agency markets. The collaboration encouraged employee volunteering and community involvement. Big Brothers Big Sisters WI Shoreline named Van Horn Automotive Group Corporate Partner of the Year.
2021 — ProCamp by Van Horn
Van Horn introduced ProCamp, a Class B motorhome built on a RAM ProMaster 3500 chassis. Designed to embrace the growing “van life” movement, ProCamp featured convertible living spaces, a galley kitchen, and creative storage solutions.
2022 — Employee Ownership Expanded
On March 2, 2022, Van Horn increased ESOP ownership from 30% to 77%, granting employees majority ownership of the company. The transition followed Chuck Van Horn’s decision to leave the auto group and focus on Van Horn Development.
2022 — CDJR of Plymouth Remodel
One of Van Horn’s oldest dealerships underwent a major expansion and remodel to meet factory image standards. The project added a dedicated Jeep showroom, indoor delivery bays, and expanded service capacity.
2022 — CloudLot Online Buying
CloudLot launched as Van Horn’s fully online vehicle purchasing platform, giving customers complete control over their buying journey—from vehicle selection to delivery scheduling.
2022 — Van Horn Gives Golf Outing
The inaugural Van Horn Gives golf outing brought employees together across locations. A charitable component allowed winning teams to select community organizations for company donations.
2023 — Metro Milwaukee Expansion
Van Horn acquired David Hobbs Honda in Glendale, marking its first Honda dealership and first major metropolitan location. Shared values around family, community, and employees made the transition seamless.
2024 — Budget Auto Rebrand
Van Horn Budget Auto was rebranded as CarsFor15K, offering high-value pre-owned vehicles priced exclusively at $15,000 or less—meeting demand for affordable transportation.
2024 — Remembering Joann Wieland
Joann Wieland passed away peacefully on February 13, 2024. The eldest Van Horn sibling, she worked in the business from a young age and later became co-owner of the Oldsmobile dealership before serving as Human Resources Manager when the group was formed.
2025 — New Kia Dealership Opens
Van Horn Kia of Sheboygan opened April 1, 2025, on the historic site where Wieland Oldsmobile and Van Horn Hyundai Mazda once stood. The 23,500-square-foot facility features modern amenities and a climate-controlled service center—honoring the past while building for the future.