Doing business the RIGHT way since 1953
History
World War II veteran James Lee purchased a small Ford dealership in Elm City, NC in 1953. James had a son, John Lee, in 1959, who worked at the dealership from a young age doing everything from cleaning toilets to light mechanical work. He continued to learn the lessons of hard work as he worked in the tobacco fields for local farmers.
John Lee attended Campbell University on a partial athletic scholarship. When John was 20 years old, his father (and founder of Lee Motor Company) died from lung cancer. John transferred back home to Wilson, NC to attend Atlantic Christian College, now Barton College, and to run the dealership. He graduated from college in 1982 with a business degree.
He and his wife, Lynn, have turned that small Ford dealership in the Wilson, NC area to several dealerships of different automotive brands in multiple states under the Lee Motor Group umbrella. Brands include: Ford, Nissan, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Hyundai, Genesis, and KIA.
John Lee saw the shift that was occurring in the automotive industry in the early 1980’s when it was clear that foreign auto makers were capturing the attention of the American market. In 1982, the group was awarded the open point for Datsun (now Nissan) after John was persistent with his outreach to the regional office. At age 26, in 1986, John set his sights on an open point for Hyundai in Fayetteville, NC, which is now consistently one of the top Hyundai dealerships in the Carolinas. In fact, Lee Hyundai was the third largest Hyundai dealership in the United States in 1988.
In 2002, Lee Motor Group added the first KIA franchise in Charleston, SC. From 2004-2013, Lee Motor Group added multiple KIA stores along with a CDJR store throughout various states. Each of the dealerships have been award-winning stores for sales and service. In 2023, Lee Motor Group opened KIA Country of Hilton Head in Bluffton, SC.
We have been in business for more than 70 years.
STATES
4
BRANDS & STORES
9
EMPLOYEES
400+
Forecast
BUSINESS will continue to go where invited and remain where appreciated.
REPUTATIONS will continue to be made by many acts and be lost by one.
PEOPLE will go right on preferring to do business with friends.
GO-GIVERS will become the best go-getters.
THE “EXTRA MILE” will have no traffic jams.
PERFORMANCE will continue to outsell promises.
ENTHUSIASM will be contagious as ever.
KNOW-HOW will surpass guess-how.
TRUST, not tricks, will keep customers loyal.
QUALITY will be prized as a precious possession.
Over the Years
1946
James (Jim) Lee worked at a Ford plant in Norfolk, VA after finishing his service in the Navy during World War II. Over the next few years, he also worked for small car dealers in Northeastern North Carolina, gaining experience.
1953
Jim Lee purchased a small, struggling Ford dealership in Elm City, North Carolina.
1959
John Lee was born, the third and youngest child of Jim and Marguerite Lee.
1966
At the age of seven, John Lee started doing odd jobs at the Lee Motor Company dealership after school, including sweeping floors, cleaning bathrooms, washing cars, and more as he got older.
1967
Jim Lee moved the dealership from Elm City to Wilson when he acquired Tobacco City Motors Inc.
1970
Jim Lee was awarded the TIME Magazine Quality Dealer award for North Carolina.
1972
Lee Motor Company hosted the grand opening for a new facility near Highway 301, a major highway at the time. The grand opening celebrations included musical performances by The Fleas and Buck Jones and The Westerners, free refreshments, favors, and prizes.
1978
John Lee graduated from Greenfield School and began attending Campbell University on a partial athletic scholarship.
1980
James (Jim) Lee passed away from cancer. John Lee transferred to Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in Wilson, NC so that he could take over the business while completing his education. The company had fewer than 50 employees at that time.
1982
John Lee’s persistence paid off when Lee Motor Company was awarded the open point for Datsun (now Nissan) in Wilson, expanding the business through a new brand.
1986
At the age of 26, John Lee secured the highly sought-after open point for Hyundai in Fayetteville, NC.
2002
Lee Motor opened the first Kia franchise in Charleston, SC. Its success led to Kia dealerships in Savannah, GA (2004), LaGrange (2010), Greenville, NC (2011), and Auburn, AL (2012).
2013
Lee Motor Group purchased the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram store in Wilson and relocated its corporate office and Ford and Nissan dealerships to a new location on Raleigh Road in Wilson. This move brought a 400% increase in parts and service sales. When the Ford dealership moved, it also changed its name from Lee Motor Company to Lee Ford Lincoln.
2014
Lee Motor Group donated its previous property and buildings to the Wilson Community College Foundation. The Lee Technology Center opened in 2019 in the former Nissan and Ford dealership facilities. Further renovations were completed in 2023.
2023
Lee Motor opened Kia Country of Hilton Head in Bluffton, SC.
John Lee was awarded the TIME Ally Dealer of the Year for North Carolina.
Lee Motor Group celebrated its 70th Anniversary. The company has grown to overt 400 employees spread over multiple dealerships and states.
We are extremely proud of our history, as we have been in continuous operation since 1953 serving our local communities. John Lee highlights his employees and partners in his success, saying, “These achievements would not be possible without great people.”