Dave Smith Motors, the large Kellogg, Idaho-based auto dealership, has established its first physical presence in the Spokane-area market with its recent acquisition of the Jaremko Nissan dealership, in Spokane Valley. 

Dave Smith Motors employs more than 500 people in Idaho and Washington. The company has a large dealership in Kellogg and a used-car dealership in Coeur d’Alene.

Company representatives declined to divulge specifics about the acquisition or its operations at its new dealership location here.

However, in an email to the Journal, company spokeswoman Mary Kae Repp said the Valley operation has a body shop, detail shop, and service center, in addition to the new- and used-car sales operations. 

“We expect to grow quickly at our new location, and hope to soon have the accolade of largest Nissan dealer in the region,” Repp says.

The Jaremko family sold the Nissan dealership after 80 years of ownership.

Dave and Mark Jaremko, sons of Paul Jaremko, who sold the dealership to Dave Smith Motors, are staying on to manage the new company, it said.

Jaremko Nissan was the oldest exclusive Nissan dealer in the U.S., the press release said. Meanwhile, Dave Smith Motors, which turned 50 last year, began selling cars in 1965 in Wallace, Idaho, and started with just six employees, it said. 

It now sells new Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac vehicles, in addition to Nissans.

Dave Smith Motors claims to be the world’s largest Chrysler Jeep Ram dealer, as well as the Northwest’s largest GM and Ram truck dealer since 1994.