DeLuca Toyota in Ocala began breaking ground last week on its new $14 million showroom and service center on State Road 200.

Owner Frank DeLuca said when he started the dealership 33 years ago on a 3.5 acre lot, selling a relatively unknown brand of car made in Japan, he never suspected the dealership would do so well.

Construction of the new 65,000-square-foot facility will begin in four months and take a year to complete. It will replace the dealership’s current 22,000-square-foot showroom and service area. It will be built on the 6-acre site that once made up the Ocala Rallye Motors dealership, which DeLuca bought for $3.75 million 2½ years ago.

DeLuca said much of the success of his dealership is due to loyal customers who return to buy new cars.

“Seventy-eight percent of our customers are repeat customers,” DeLuca said, adding later, “We treat every customer like an honored guest in our home.”

“This is my baby,” he said of the business. “This is my No. 1 business that I have here. I really care about our customers.”

The latest Ocala Rallye Motors land purchase puts the Toyota dealership at nearly 25 acres. The business employs 131 people.

The new facility will not only expand the showroom and office space, but also increase the number of service bays from the current 19 to 42.

The expansion also will create jobs, DeLuca said. All told, the expansion will involve hiring as many as 40 more employees, about half of whom will be mechanics.

Construction of the facility will put between 150 to 200 people to work, DeLuca estimated.

DeLuca said the new facility also will include entertainment for people in the process of buying a vehicle or getting one serviced. The facility will include a movie theater, salon and massage chairs.

Customer service also will include free coffee, cappuccinos and sandwiches.

“And I try to meet every customer and personally thank them (for buying a vehicle) … and shake their hand before they walk out of the dealership,” DeLuca said.

On the facility’s second floor, DeLuca said, there will be a putting green. The green is for customers to entertain themselves, but DeLuca also welcomed customers negotiating the price of their new vehicles to use the green to settle price disputes with the sales staff.

Although Toyota sales and profits slumped after last year’s tsunami in Japan, DeLuca said sales are back to normal, and his dealership recently experienced one of its best three-day sales periods, selling 47 vehicles.

The DeLuca sales mirror a resurgence in the U.S. auto industry after a slump in mid-2011. Sales of all brand cars and light trucks had fallen to about 900,000 new vehicles in January 2012, a tumble after sales had reached a December high of about 1.2 million.

By February, sales again were improving and were surpassing 1.1 million, according to motorintelligence.com, an industry website that analyzes automotive sales and trends. In March, U.S. vehicle sales reached 1.45 million, rounding out the best quarter for U.S. vehicle sales since 2008.

Vehicle sales for the year through March hit 3.45 million, about 400,000 more than for the same time frame in 2011.

Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. saw its share of the upswing. March sales reached 203,282 vehicles, a 15.4 percent increase from March 2011. Between January 2012 and March 2012, Toyota Motor Sales USA sold 487,284 vehicles, a 12.3 percent increase from the same period a year ago.

Following the sales, Toyota increased its worldwide sales forecast to the low-to mid-14 million range from 13.6 million.

“We’re starting to see improvement in consumer confidence and, combined with rising fuel prices and aging vehicles, the market is starting to move,” said Bob Carter, Toyota’s group vice president for U.S. sales, in an April 5 Automotive News interview. “It’s happening quicker than anyone thought.”

Through the sweat and hard work of our employees and the loyalty of wonderful customers like you, we are one of the fastest growing Toyota dealerships (now with Scions, Prius Hybrids and more!) in Florida. Frank’s dedication to the industry, to the community and to the brand have brought DeLuca Toyota very much forward from its beginnings. On 25 acres, there are new vehicles, great pre-owned vehicles and our dedicated team of parts and service specialists.

Today there are a slew of new Prius Hybrids, the new Camry and so much more exciting vehicles from both Toyota and Scion poised to take the industry by storm, DeLuca Toyota is fully dedicated to meet the growing demands of our great customers and to our growing community.We hope everyone will continue to support us on our exciting journey and keep us moving forward.

Reproduced with permission from the Ocala Star Banner:

This time a year ago, Toyota Motor Corp. was well into its second vehicle recall and the company that made its reputation on safety and quality was watching its sales and image sullied with each new headline.

Photograph © ESI Photography.

OCALA, FL (December 21, 2010)–HITS, Inc. is pleased to announce that DeLuca Toyota will be the title sponsor of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit’s 30th Anniversary Season Finale, the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group on Sunday, March 20 to close out the 2011 show season.

Since 2008, DeLuca Toyota Tundra has been the proud sponsor of this big-ticket event, which in its 13-year history has seen the likes of Aaron Vale, Laura Linback, Ian Silitch, Mike McCormick and Tracy Fenney take home the coveted win. Perhaps even more exciting, once again the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, will be a crucial qualifier for the 2011 Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. Last year, Texas’ own Tracy Fenney used her victory in the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix to propel her to the top of the Pfizer Million Rider Rankings. With a first-place payout of $30,000, it’s safe to say that High-Performance riders looking for their shot at this year’s Pfizer Million will have this event on their radar.

“Deluca Toyota is a proud sponsor of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit’s $100,000 Grand Prix,” said Bill Morrison, New Cars Sales Manager of DeLuca Toyota. “Our involvement in this program has always been about the people of Ocala. HITS is one of the largest events to affect our city each year, and brings a lot of jobs and income to our community. By supporting this program we support many workers in the community from the rider and trainers, all the way to the person who works at that rider’s favorite restaurant. So in 2011, as well as the last four years, Deluca Toyota is proud to be a sponsor and associate of HITS.”

A testament of their commitment to the Ocala community, DeLuca is also providing the winner of the WTRS Radio Station’s “Ocala is a HIT” National Anthem Contest a check for $500.

Are you looking to buy or lease a new car? DeLuca Toyota is the premier dealership of Ocala and offers the most extensive line of Toyota and Scion vehicles in the state. Located at 1719 SW College Road, Highway 200 West in Ocala, DeLuca Toyota offers big savings on preowned and certified preowned vehicles, which are backed with a seven year, 100,000 mile warranty.

DeLuca Toyota has all your vehicle needs to choose from. Striving for 100% customer satisfaction in all their sales and services, DeLuca Toyota offers the best selection on sales, rentals and repairs as your number one vehicle stop while at HITS Ocala. Whether it’s a car, minivan, truck or SUV, DeLuca Toyota can trade-in, get you credit approved and find available rebates for a comfortable and affordable experience.

You won’t have to go far this winter to see what DeLuca Toyota has to offer. A full line of vehicles will be displayed all season on-site at HITS Post Time Farm alongside the berm at Jumper 1 for you to explore, as well as speak to a DeLuca representative for any questions or needs you may have. From 100,000 miles to the $100,000 Grand Prix; Toyota makes the car, DeLuca makes the difference!

For more information on DeLuca Toyota, please visit DeLucaToyota.com.

The 2011 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit begins January 19 for two consecutive weeks of unrated competition at HITS Post Time Farm. Starting February 8, the AA-rated circuit begins for six consecutive weeks and will culminate on Sunday, March 20, as the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix, presented by Great American Insurance Group, takes the stage as the biggest finale event of the season. The 2011 show season will feature a full exciting lineup of classes and special events, which include 14 Grand Prix qualifiers for the 2011 Pfizer Million and five Devoucoux Hunter Prix qualifiers for the inaugural $500,000 HITS 3’3″ Hunter Prix Final. Both historic events will take place during the Pfizer Million Weekend at HITS-on-the-Hudson on September 10-11.

For more information on the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, or to request a prize list, please visit HitsShows.com or call 845.246.8833.

HITS, Inc. produces high-quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Virginia. In 2010, HITS took the industry to new heights when it hosted the first-ever Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix. HITS will once again offer the most innovative weekend in show jumping history in 2011 when it hosts the second annual Pfizer Million and the inaugural $500,000 HITS 3’3″ Hunter Prix Final, September 10 -11, at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit Media_Info@HitsShows.com.

The Marion County Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Frank DeLuca. DeLuca has been a staple of strength and stability in this community for decades, and exhibits the same virtues toward March of Dimes. As the 2009 March of Babies chair, his team raised over $20,000 for healthy babies. Frank DeLuca has always gone above and beyond the call of duty by making phone calls, writing letters and recruiting new teams to generate new funds and spread the mission of March of Dimes. Even though these are tough economic times, Frank DeLuca’s motivation and headship has helped the March of Dimes raise $414,000.

Frank has supported the President’s Community Council at CF since its inception. This group of community leaders is given an inside look at issues facing the college and the community it serves. The council is invited to meaningful discussions regarding the college’s role in the growing Central Florida region.

Along with supporting college events and the foundation’s first major gifts campaign insignificant ways, Frank has made additional contributions to directly and personally support scholarships at the college. He makes a considerate effort to annually contribute to those scholarships that have been established in honor of friends and loved ones.

Frank made a strong statement about the DeLuca family’s belief in the importance of education when he established the Carole A. DeLuca Endowed Memorial Scholarship in 2006 after the pasting of his late wife Carole.

Frank DeLuca is truly a dear friend and neighbor to the college.

Spring is here and graduation time is upon us. Last year, I had the honor of addressing the graduat-ing class at Marion Technical Institute. Bolstered by the optimism of youth and a good chance to get ahead, those students already had a head start on their peers with education and work experience.

Some of Marion County’s finest firms participate in MTI and have sponsored several internships: Lockheed Martin, MASCO Builder Cabinet Group, Taylor, Bean & Whitaker, Emergency-One, DeLuca Toyota, Ford of Ocala, and MRMC, to name a few. In the packed auditorium, there was genuine ex-citement and revelry for the graduates’ participation in MTI and their working experiences. This, in my opinion, is the very core of the classroom-workplace connection.

Reproduced from Ocala Style Magazine: link

May 16, 2007

OCALA – Local businessman Frank DeLuca gets emotional when he talks about his late wife, Carole, who died in 2006.

“She wasn’t just my wife, she was my best friend,” he said through tears.

Now the philanthropist is spending his life, and his fortune, preserving her legacy by supporting the causes that were near to her heart.

Tuesday morning, the Carole DeLuca Media Center was dedicated at Trinity Catholic High School, a school that the DeLuca family has backed since its inception in 2001.

“We’ve been members of Blessed Trinity for 28 years,” said DeLuca, who owns DeLuca Toyota in Ocala. “Carole always supported education.”

DeLuca provided the funding for the school’s media center, which has two computer laboratories and serves as a satellite campus for St. Leo University. The media center houses a library of written media used for daily research, and DeLuca said a fully equipped television production studio is in development.

“The memorial 100 percent stands for Carole DeLuca and what she represented,” said the Rev. Patrick Sheedy of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church. “We’re very proud of the media center and its technology.”

In addition to the media center, Frank DeLuca has financially supported many other endeavors and organizations in honor of his wife, including the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign, the Marion Theatre, and the Historic Ocala Preservation Society. He also rented a billboard on State Road 200 for a couple of months that displayed her picture and an in-memoriam message.

“She was just a giver,” he said.

DeLuca said he and Carole were high school sweethearts in Orlando before moving to Ocala in 1978. They were married for 39 years and had two children and five grandchildren.

“She was a competitive roller skater,” he said. “She was a dynamic, bubbly personality that could light up a room like a ray of sunshine.”

Carole, who had a heart condition, died unexpectedly during a family ski trip in Vail, Colo., after her son was involved in a serious accident on the slopes. He has since recovered.

“It’s a huge void. It’s been very difficult because we were so close,” DeLuca said.

Since her passing, DeLuca also has established the Carole DeLuca Memorial Scholarship Fund at Central Florida Community College. The fund especially supports students interested in the arts and horticulture.

“The community has always done a lot for me and my family, and this is my way of giving back,” DeLuca said. “Carole and I were a team, and this is a way to keep her memory alive.”

Reproduced by permission of the Ocala Star Banner. Article link.