Car stolen from Rockville auto dealership

Montgomery County police were called to a Rockville auto dealership after a vehicle was reported having been stolen from the property Thursday night, March 10, 2022. Crime data indicates the car was taken from a dealership in the White 'Flint area, in the 5500 block of Nicholson Lane, at 9:55 PM. Fitzgerald Buick-GMC is located on that block.

Rivian starts trucking at new Rockville facility (Photos)

Rivian made big news by raising prices on its electric vehicles yesterday, even for those who had pre-ordered under the previous price points, before backtracking today amid order cancellations. There is Rivian news closer to home here in Rockville, though. A Rivian facility has just been established at 1300 Rockville Pike. This was previously the BMW of Rockville dealership.

Flatbed trucks used to deliver
Rivian vehicles to buyers

Don't plan to visit just yet. The facility is currently being used to fulfill delivery orders for vehicles to purchasers in our area, and signs warn that the property is to be entered by "Employees Only." Those flatbed trucks you see in the photos here are used to deliver the vehicles directly to owners' homes. Also on-site: a surveillance robot, whose blue light can be seen as you approach on the Pike.

Blue light special: the Rivian
facility is under surveillance by
this camera robot out front

Aside from delivery and service functions, there are no consumer-facing operations here yet. There are currently no Rivian vehicles visible on-site, no Rivian Experience Center showroom, and no Rivian signage. But if you live nearby and haven't canceled your R1T or R1S order, this is where your vehicle will arrive first before it is brought to you on one of these flatbed trucks. Three major EV brands now have a presence in Rockville: Tesla, Polestar and Rivian.

Tesla rival Polestar opens first Washington D.C.-area dealership in Rockville

The electric car age is fully upon us, and Montgomery County auto buyers are finding each year is bringing more options to the market. Polestar, a Swedish rival to Tesla, has just opened a location at 15401 Frederick Road in Rockville, just north of Gude Drive. This is on the site of the DARCARS Volvo dealership. That's not surprising, because Polestar is partly owned by Volvo.

Polestar is most strongly promoting its Polestar 2 sedan. It looks like a cross between a Volvo electric, a Tesla, and a hint of Lincoln at the rear. It goes 0-60 in 4.7 seconds. The company also offers something Tesla won't for another couple of years, a sports coupe called the Polestar 1. A Polestar 3 is anticipated to be built in America, and the company recently announced plans to go public.

Like Tesla, the company provides a different retail experience than traditional automakers. Its sites are called Spaces, not "dealerships," and are designed to look like exhibit-filled museums rather than sales floors. Polestar doesn't have the wide network of proprietary supercharger sites that Tesla owners enjoy. But unlike Tesla owners, you can charge up at standard charging stations wherever you find them. Kudos to Polestar for touting Rockville's "bustling restaurants and shops surrounding a traditional town square with its manicured lawn" in its promotional materials for the space.

Photos courtesy Polestar

Hummer EV now available for pre-order at King GMC Buick in Rockville

The highly-anticipated Hummer EV electric truck is now available for pre-order at King GMC Buick, located at 16200 Frederick Road. It features a 300-350 mile range, depending on which model you choose. Advanced features include Ultravision navigation cameras, a power swing gate, and the ability for the truck to drive diagonally like a crab. The pickup model goes 0-60 in three seconds; the SUV version takes a half-second longer. 

Nationwide used car shortage evident in Rockville as new Ourisman Pre-Owned Supercenter opens

New cars are in short supply across America, and those in need are turning to used cars, driving up prices and driving down inventory. The reduced availability of used cars is evident in Rockville, as Ourisman opens the Ourisman Pre-Owned Supercenter at 15301 N. Frederick Road at E. Gude Drive. 

When this property was Ourisman's Rockmont Chevrolet, the lot was typically jammed to overflow with new and used inventory. As you can see, there is a lot more open space in the lot at the moment, as used cars are a hot commodity and selling fast. It's a great time to be in the pre-owned business, as supply chain shortages and booming inflation have made it a seller's market.

Rockville Mayor & Council to hold public hearing tonight on proposed annexation of King Buick-GMC dealership into city

Rockville's Mayor and Council will receive public testimony on the proposed annexation of the King Buick-GMC auto dealership property at 16200 Frederick Road into the city at their virtual meeting tonight, May 17, 2021 at 7:05 PM. A residential development has been proposed for the site by developer EYA. City zoning would permit the density EYA seeks for the development, whereas the current Montgomery County zoning would not.

Site plan shows development that would replace King Buick GMC in Rockville

Here is a look at the site plan for the proposed redevelopment of the King Buick GMC auto dealership property at 16200 Frederick Road. Rockville leaders are currently considering whether or not to annex the property into the city, a move necessary to allow construction of the density proposed here by developer EYA. A public hearing on the question of annexation has been scheduled.

EYA is proposing to build 247 townhomes and 118 "two-over-two multifamily units" on the property. Above, you can see the proposed open space (shown in blue) and green space (green) for the development. 

The site is walking distance to the Shady Grove Metro station. Intriguingly, it is also across the street from the Montgomery County dump, an issue that previously arose during the successful approval process for the Bainbridge Shady Grove down the street. May the winds be ever in your favor!

Rockville Planning Commission to hold public hearing on annexation of King Buick GMC dealership into city

Should the City of Rockville annex the King Buick GMC dealership at 16200 Frederick Road into the city limits? You can weigh in on the proposed plan at a virtual public hearing being held by the Rockville Planning Commission on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 7:00 PM. To participate, follow the instructions on the meeting agenda. If approved, the new land added to the city is expected to be redeveloped by EYA as a residential housing development.

A sign of what's to come at new Darcars dealership on Rockville Pike

First we found out who the mystery tenant was in the new building near Roy Rogers on Rockville Pike. Now we know which brands and what type of sales will be offered at this new Darcars dealership. 

It will feature pre-owned Dodge, Ram, Chrysler and Jeep sales. This makes perfect sense, as these brands match those carried by the existing Darcars dealership directly across the street from the new site.

Darcars opening new Rockville location

Darcars is the mystery tenant moving into the new building by Roy Rogers at 712 Rockville Pike. Once again, the Pike is maintaining its suburban character as a commercial strip with car dealerships and retail stores, despite developer efforts last decade to upzone Rockville Pike into a high-density urban area. A similar urbanization plan for White Flint's part of the Pike, passed by the Montgomery County Council, has been an utter failure so far.

Rockville car dealership construction wrapping up

Construction of the new dealership facility at Ourisman Mazda/VW at 801 Rockville Pike is wrapping up, as the auto retailer becomes the latest on Rockville Pike to replace its showroom. In fact, just since these photos were taken, the first cars have been moved into the showroom. Like some of the competitors, the new building has higher ceilings, and a more modern design.

Rockville Ourisman Mazda construction update (Photos)

Here's a look at the progress on the new Ourisman Mazda dealership facility at 801 Rockville Pike. The dealership remains open during the construction.

New BMW of Rockville dealership building opens (Photos)

German car brands continue to set the design standards for auto dealerships in Montgomery County. The latest dealership facility to complete construction is BMW of Rockville's at 1450 Rockville Pike. Customers will be greeted by one of the Ultimate Driving Machines out front, and many more inside the multi-level showroom and service building.

Rockville construction update: BMW of Rockville dealership (Photos)

The permanent sign has been installed on the facade of the new BMW of Rockville dealership on Rockville Pike. It definitely maximizes storage space on the site, at a time when dealerships are increasingly renting parking spaces at shopping centers and malls to store their overflow inventory. With the prices on BMWs, you don't want to have to park them in an unsecured area someplace.