A Century of Innovation: How Thinking Young has Driven the Young Automotive Group


At the Young Automotive Group, our success story spans an entire century - a journey marked by our relentless dedication to delivering exceptional customer experiences as well as our steadfast commitment to growth. As we embark on a 100-year journey of excellence, we are continually seeking new opportunities, expanding our community outreach, and positioning ourselves for the future. Join us as we walk through each decade of our remarkable history, celebrating the milestones and innovations that have defined us.

The Roaring 20's

Seldon "Jack" Olsen began his journey in the automotive industry as a mechanic at a repair shop in Morgan, Utah. In 1924, he worked his way up to partner and eventually bought the company. After researching and speaking with various contacts, Jack signed his first Oldsmobile selling agreement at the age of 25 to become a dealership owner. His first customer was Mountain Green resident O.W. Rollins. 


Looking to expand his company in 1926, Jack bought the Parkinson building in Morgan and converted it into a dealership. He hosted a dance on New Year's Eve to celebrate the grand opening. Three years later, he signed his first Chevrolet contract.


Frequently studying and taking correspondence courses, Jack did everything he could in his first decade of business to become a better owner. These efforts helped him brave the storm of the upcoming economic collapse.

Dust Bowl Rollers

The struggles that plagued the country during the Great Depression challenged Jack as well. He was forced to repossess 41 cars in 21 days due to new manufacturer loan requirements. Jack even had to resort to bartering at times, providing vehicles and maintenance for goods and services.


Along with economic struggles, Jack faced tragedies during the decade. In 1935, his Morgan dealership burned to the ground, and he acquired severe burns while retrieving a cash register as well as a few tools.


Despite the setbacks, Jack kept his business afloat. He would frequently tow a new car around the valley and wouldn't come back until it was sold. In 1938, he purchased a Chevrolet franchise for what would become his Layton dealership.

Steel 40's Soliders

World War II brought several challenges to Jack's business. Due to production complications with manufacturers, bringing inventory in was a challenge. During this time, he would travel east by train and drive back cars to keep vehicles on his showroom floor.


In 1948, Jack opened his Layton Chevrolet dealership on Main Street - a location that stands to this day.

Fin-tastic Fifties

 During the 1950s, Jack's youngest daughter, Bertie, married Sam Young. Shortly after they were married, Sam left his job working on the railroad to become a bookkeeper at Olsen Chevrolet. 


Jack continued to run both the Morgan and Layton dealerships. In 1956, Sam and Bertie gave birth to Spencer Young Sr.

Swinging 60's

Sam proved himself at the dealership, becoming a keen and intuitive leader. In the 1960's, he held multiple management positions. The dealership also saw tremendous growth during this time, with additions to the facility taking place regularly. 


Sam also began to have his sons work at the company at an early age. Near the end of the decade, Spencer Sr. started at the dealership as a lot technician.

Disco Drives

During the 1970s, the Young family took on a more prevalent presence in the dealerships. Spencer began selling cars at the Layton location during his late 20's, while his brothers Seldon and Roger began taking on more roles with the company. Near the end of the decade, Jack passed down to his family the remaining shares of his Layton location before his death in 1979 -  leaving behind a legacy that's inspired generations of growth.

Rad 80's Rides

In the early 1980's, Sam Young purchased sole ownership of the dealership - ushering in an era of expansion for the Young Automotive Group. The company changed the name of their Layton dealership to Young Chevrolet, and acquired a Pontiac location across the street before the turn of the decade - which currently stands as Young Buick GMC.

The 90's Daytona Dash

The Young Automotive Group planted their seeds of success throughout the 1990's. With Spencer Young Sr. serving as president, the company acquired an Avis Car Sales location in Ogden as well as dealerships in Kaysville, Utah and Burley, Idaho. It was also during this time that the Young Automotive Group began to diversify their assets. They opened a new trailer division and purchased the Bonneville Raceway tracks in Utah - which later became Rocky Mountain Raceways.

  1. Weathering the Recession: Another Opportunity for Growth

    The Great Recession of 2008-2009 marked a pivotal moment for the Young Automotive Group. With four of its five dealerships carrying General Motors vehicles, the company faced the impact of GM's bankruptcy. Across the country, many dealers received letters rescinding their brand. Despite these challenges, the Young Automotive Group managed to keep all its locations operational. This period spurred Spencer Young Sr. to prioritize diversification. Expanding into Morgan and Logan and acquiring the new Young Subaru dealership, the company swiftly grew to nine automotive locations within a few years and that was just the beginning.

Young Subaru: A relatively unknown dealership in the northern Utah market, the Ogden Subaru location did not meet the needs of its customer base before its acquisition. Average sales were at 14 new units per month. In 2011, the Young Automotive Group saw a massive opportunity to expand their presence in the Ogden market, and purchased the Ogden Subaru location. 


Mike Capron took over as the general manager for what became Young Subaru. It was shortly after that the location expanded. Today, the dealership has become one of the top selling Subaru locations in all of Utah.


 
Young Ford of Morgan: For several years, Barber Brothers ran a stable Ford dealership in Morgan, Utah. When they decided to retire, the owners approached the Young Automotive Group to discuss acquisition opportunities. The company agreed to purchase the location - entering the Morgan market almost 90 years after their origin.

 
Young Toyota and Honda: In 2012, Ensign Toyota Honda began looking for companies to purchase their dealership. One year later, the combined Toyota and Honda location was acquired by the Young Automotive Group. The company began remodeling the main building, developing it into a state of the art dealership with a beautiful showroom. Shortly after, the Young Automotive Group constructed a new building and split the dealership into two locations - one for Toyota and one for Honda.

  
Young Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Morgan: Like the Barber Brothers, the Carrigan family had run Morgan's Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram dealership for years. Located in a small store in the center of the city, the location's showroom could only fit one vehicle. In 2013, the Young Automotive Group acquired the dealership. Today, Young Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Morgan is a 50,000 square foot building with a beautiful showroom, eight service bays and a large parts department.

 
Young Mazda: In 2015, the Young Automotive Group purchased their first Mazda dealership by acquiring Freeway Mazda in Riverdale, Utah. The franchise was immediately moved from Riverdale to a facility in Kaysville - a temporary location. After 18 months, Young Mazda moved back to Riverdale in a newly constructed building. They've since become one of the top Mazda dealerships in the state of Utah.
 
Young Powersports Burley: The Young Automotive Group entered the powersports industry in 2015 with the acquisition of a dealership in Burley, Idaho. Today, Young Powersports Burley houses products from manufacturers like Polaris and CFMOTO.

 
Young Ford of Brigham City: In 2016, the Young Automotive Group acquired their second Ford dealership. Located 25 miles north of Ogden, Young Ford of Brigham City remained in its original location until 2018 when the building was updated.
 
Young Truck and Trailer: While the Young Automotive Group had been selling trailers and commercial vehicles for nearly twenty years before, it was in 2017 that they opened their first Young Truck and Trailer location in Kaysville, Utah. After Young Mazda moved back to Riverdale, the company created a facility capable of housing Young Truck and Trailer's inventory. They've since established satellite locations in areas like Pleasant View and Logan. In 2020, Young Truck and Trailer began selling RVs in their product line.
 
Young Hyundai: The Young Automotive Group acquired Westland Hyundai in 2018. At the time, the dealership was struggling to stay in business. Since the ownership change, the location has consistently met the manufacturer's standards and greatly increased the monthly volume of new unit sales. In 2020, the building was remodeled to match Hyundai's brand standards.
 
Young Powersports Utah: In 2019, the Young Automotive Group acquired two dealerships in Utah - which became Young Powersports of Layton and Young Powersports of Ogden. This further diversified the production lineup of the Young Automotive Group. Before the end of 2021, the company added new locations in Bountiful, Centerville, Pleasant View, Morgan and Logan.
 
Young Ford of Ogden: In 2020, the Westland Automotive Group sold their last dealership to the Young Automotive Group - a Ford location in Ogden, Utah. Though well-established, the dealership was not profitable. Negotiations for the ownership change began during the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the challenges of operating in a world with social distancing, Young Ford of Ogden began to flourish within its first month. It has since become one of the highest-producing locations within the Young Automotive Group.
 
Young Powersports XL Centerville: In 2021, Young Powersports broke ground on their new flagship location in Centerville. The largest powersports store in Utah, Young Powersports XL Centerville houses machines from manufacturers like Can-Am, Royal Enfield, Indian Motorcycles, Ski-doo, Polaris and Yamaha.
 
Audi, Volkswagen and Dodge: The purchase of the Layton Cutrubus Group's three dealerships has been the largest acquisition to date for the Young Automotive Group. This deal brought exciting opportunities for the company as they acquired their first luxury manufacturer in Audi, a new Volkswagen dealership and their third Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Ram location.
 
YAG HQ: In 2021, the Young Automotive Group broke ground on a new 145,000-square-foot facility to house its executive offices, central office team, wholesale parts operation, and Center of Excellence department. The new facility was completed in late 2023.
 
Young Mazda Idaho Falls: During the spring of 2023, the Young Automotive Group opened a new Mazda location in Idaho Falls - their first acquisition in eastern Idaho.
 
Young Mazda Missoula: Their first expansion into a new state since the beginning of the millennium, the Young Automotive Group acquired Flanagan Motors Mazda in 2023. Young Mazda Missoula continues to uphold the same family values it did under the previous name while maintaining profitability. 
 
Driving Forward

As we reflect on the Young Automotive Group's remarkable 100-year journey, one thing becomes clear: resilience, innovation, and a fearless commitment to excellence have been the driving forces behind the company's success. Founded on grit and drive, the Young Automotive Group's journey has been guided by a deep-rooted sense of community and a passion for helping people. As we look to the future, we remain committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences, extending positive influence, embracing new technologies, and continuing to evolve with the ever-changing automotive industry. 

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