ReCar opened in 2018, but our story began long before then; 30 years ago in a small town called Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Future Shift Auto Group President David O'Leary begins selling cars at O'Leary Pontiac Buick GMC. For the next 20 years, David had success in many roles within O'Leary Auto Group including Sales Manager, Used Car Manager, General Manager, Dealer Principal (Fredericton Hyundai) and eventually Chief Operating Officer (COO) of O'Leary Auto Group. David chose to leave O'Leary Auto Group to start his own business, Shift Auto Group.
After 22 years of working in multiple capacities, including General Manager and Dealer Principal for GM, Nissan and Hyundai dealerships, in 2015 David O'Leary steps out on his own and starts Shift Auto Group with his very first dealership - Fredericton Mitsubishi. Their unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction, quality vehicles, and competitive prices set the stage for a legacy of innovation and growth in the automotive retail industry.
In 2016, Shift Auto Group expanded its horizons by acquiring Volvo Cars New Brunswick. This strategic addition enabled us to offer a diverse range of luxury vehicles to our customers, all across Atlantic Canada and to pioneer White Glove Service for Volvo Canada, showcasing our commitment to a higher level of experience and excellence.
Inspired to revolutionize the used car industry in Canada, Shift Auto Group launches ReCar in Fredericton, Atlantic Canada's first ever fixed-price used vehicle retailer with salaried/non-commissioned Vehicle Advisors. This groundbreaking move marked a new chapter in our story, fueled by our dedication to providing a seamless, customer-centric automotive retail experience that would redefine expectations across Atlantic Canada.
2019 and 2020 marked a milestone for Shift Auto Group. In a period of 18 months, we grew from two used retail locations to seven, with the opening of ReCar in both Saint John and Moncton, NB and the acquisition of St. Croix Auto, a used retailer with over 18 years of history serving New Brunswick communities. This extended our reach across New Brunswick and offered an even greater selection of high-quality pre-owned vehicles to our customers.
In 2022, we welcomed Grand Falls Hyundai to the Shift Auto Group family, strengthening our portfolio of new car dealerships and offering even more options for our customers. This marked Shift Auto Group's first new vehicle dealership outside of Fredericton, New Brunswick and highlights our continued desire to align ourselves with world-class brands.
2023 brought exciting new opportunities for Shift Auto Group, with the acquisition of a highly respected Kia dealership in Miramichi, New Brunswick. This new venture allowed us to expand our new vehicle offerings beyond the current Mitsubishi, Volvo and Hyundai dealerships. We’re proud to acquire a dealership with a brand that aligns wholeheartedly with our values and places an emphasis on safety; 8 vehicles in the Kia lineup received the 2022 IIHS top safety pick award.
Inspired by a vision to revolutionize the used car market, Shift Auto Group proudly unveils ReCar Halifax, Atlantic Canada's premier fixed-price used vehicle retailer. This groundbreaking venture introduces a novel approach by employing non-commissioned vehicle advisors to Halifax. Our commitment to a seamless, customer-centric automotive retail experience aims to redefine industry standards in Halifax, setting a new benchmark for trust and transparency in How Car Buying Should Be.
