CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — After signing the final documents, you open the door to your brand-new car and revel in the excitement of a new chapter. The leather upholstery embraces you as you sit behind the wheel and start the engine. Before pulling out of the dealership lot, you glance back at the smiling faces in the rearview mirror, knowing that this car isn’t just a mode of transportation but a vessel for making cherished memories.

From the routine of everyday life to the celebration of significant milestones, Stephen Wade Auto Center stands by your side while protecting life’s precious cargo.

“We’re here for every stage of your journey,” said Jamie Bahlmann, public relations director for Stephen Wade Auto Center. “We’re providing a product, and that product takes you throughout your life. But it’s so much more than that.”

Whether it’s the excitement of picking up the keys to your first car, upgrading to a family-friendly vehicle that accommodates a car seat or bringing your newborn home from the hospital, they have the perfect vehicle for every milestone. Trust them to provide a reliable vehicle as you send your child off to college, or keep you comfortable and secure as you drive into retirement. Their goal is to build lifelong relationships with their customers by making each visit a memorable one that keeps people coming back time and time again.

After graduating from college in 1999, Bahlmann moved to Southern Utah, where she purchased her first car from Stephen Wade Auto Center. She said she vividly recalls the pride she felt buying the car entirely on her own and securing her own financing. 

When she brought her first child home, it was in her next vehicle from Stephen Wade Auto Center, and the same for her second. As a loyal customer for 25 years and an employee for the past nine, Bahlmann’s journey with Stephen Wade Auto Center exemplifies the family atmosphere they strive to create for every customer.

“We’re a family business,” she said. “We want people coming back for their first car, their second car, their family car. That’s what we strive for. It’s about taking you to each stage throughout your life, whatever that may be.”

From browsing vehicles to driving your dream car home, the employees at Stephen Wade Auto Center enthusiastically walk you through the entire process. Recognizing that their team is their greatest asset, the company is committed to providing continuous employee training and development. 

This growth empowers employees to provide exceptional service and ensures that each customer receives the highest level of expertise and care. By fostering a culture of learning and improvement, they strive to maintain their reputation for excellence and innovation in the automotive industry.

For more than 25 years, Stephen Wade Auto Center has been dedicated to giving back to the community that has supported them. And they don’t just talk about it; they do it, proudly sponsoring a variety of programs, including recreational youth sports, art and science programs, school athletic teams and local school clubs and organizations through their Kick4Cash and Shoot4Cash initiatives.

Additionally, they support the Washington County School District Foundation by funding grants for teachers to purchase essential classroom equipment. In 2019, they donated over 60 pumper cars to the district, benefiting children with special needs in elementary schools. Their involvement extends to sponsoring local sporting events, concerts, festivals, medical programs and nonprofit organizations.

History

Stephen Wade’s journey in the automotive industry began alongside his fraternity brother, Robert Garff, selling cars. Venturing into the business in 1975, Wade swiftly rose to become one of the nation’s youngest Mazda dealers, establishing his dealership in Salt Lake City. Relocating to St. George in 1993, Wade established Stephen Wade Honda Mazda and later expanded his enterprise to include an automotive collision center in 1996.

Over the years, Stephen Wade Auto Center has undergone substantial growth and diversification. In 2006, Stephen Wade Nissan was opened, followed by the addition of Chevrolet Cadillac in 2007, Toyota in 2008 and Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Fiat in 2009. The spring of 2016 saw the introduction of the luxury brand Mercedes-Benz of St. George, further expanding the automotive empire. The latest milestone came in 2018 with the acquisition of Brent Brown Toyota in Orem.

Today, Stephen Wade Auto Center provides careers for over 800 people, with plans for further expansion and development.

“You see us on the football fields, on the courts, at your festivals, in your schools,” Bahlmann said. “We are there every step of the way with you and your family.”

For all the moments in all the days, in every stage of life, you’ve got it made with Stephen Wade.

Stephen Wade Auto Center • Stephen Wade Truck Center • Stephen Wade Chevrolet Cadillac • Stephen Wade Mazda • Stephen Wade Honda • Stephen Wade Nissan • Stephen Wade Toyota • Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram • Mercedes-Benz of St. George

Written by JESSI BANG for St. George News.

• S P O N S O R E D   C O N T E N T •

Resources

• Stephen Wade Auto Center | Address: 150 Auto Mall Drive, St. George | Telephone: 435-222-7605 | Website.

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