Confidence and laurels run high at new Bert Ogden Cadillac dealership ceremony

BY BENJAMIN TREVIÑO

STAFF WRITER

About two dozen invited guests gathered at the construction site of the new Bert Ogden Cadillac dealership in Edinburg on Thursday for a topping out ceremony. In building construction, topping out is a builders’ rite traditionally held when the final beam is placed atop a structure during its construction.

Sergio Contreras, president and CEO of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, acted as emcee for the ceremony, calling the event a “significant milestone” for Valley job creation.

“The Bert Ogden Auto Group continues to support our region by creating jobs,” Contreras told the audience. “They hire local. They partner and engage with local vendors. They support our local schools, and also support our local nonprofi t organizations and charity organizations.”

Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina echoed the jobs theme, pointing to Bert Ogden’s longstanding presence in the city where the dealership chain began in the 1970s. Edinburg is already home to seven Bert Ogden dealerships and its corporate accounting office. Cadillac will be the eighth dealership in Edinburg.

“The Cadillac facility behind me will be 30-thousand square feet,” Mayor Molina noted. “With the Bert Ogden Cadillac dealership being housed in the city, this will offer more job opportunities for our residents. The Bert Ogden Auto Group already employs close to 500

Bert Ogden Auto Group CEO Natasha Del Barrio signs a steel I-beam Thursday, marking the ceremonial completion of frame construction at the company’s new Cadillac dealership in Edinburg.

Benjamin Treviño | The Monitor

people in the city of Edinburg alone.”

Dealer principal Bob Vackar and his wife, Janet, were unable to attend the ceremony, but they addressed the crowd via taped video message. They noted how Bert Ogden and his daughter, Janet, have both had a long-standing affinity for Cadillac vehicles.

“Janet has been a dedicated Cadillac driver for many years and has always been so impressed with the overall quality and comfort Cadillac offers,” Mr. Vackar began. “25 years later, we are so proud to offer the latest in modern luxury, future innovation, and electrifi cation at this state-ofthe- art facility. This facility will be the first of its kind in the state of Texas and one of the first in the nation.”

“We do love Edinburg,” said Mrs. Vackar. Dad would be so proud today. He loved selling Cadillacs and he loved selling them to anyone would listen to him; how to drive them, what new gadgets were in them. He was just so proud to sell Cadillacs, and that’s why there’s no place we’d rather put this new Cadillac store than right there in Edinburg.”

D. Wilson Construction began building on the Alberta Road site in December 2020, with completion projected to be in November 2021. CEO Josue Reyes noted that the building’s design will be utilized in future Cadillac dealerships across the United States.

“This building will be one of just a handful with this design concept in North America,” said Reyes. “And it’s right here in the Rio Grande Valley. I can’t begin to express our appreciation for the opportunity to partner with the Bert Ogden Auto Groupon this project and others in the Valley.”

Construction of the new Bert Ogden Cadillac dealership is among the first tangible moves in the US reflecting Cadillac’s shift toward electric vehicle (EV) technology. It’s the first of its kind in Texas. The facility will include EV charging stations, and a full EV maintenance department. The Cadillac Lyriq EV is expected to be available at the dealership in the second quarter of 2022, according to Bob Vackar.

In 2020, Cadillac advised all its dealerships they would have to invest at least $200,000 in EV upgrades, or accept buyouts ranging from $300,000 to $500,000. Bert Ogden Auto Group CEO Natasha Del Barrio said the decision to stay with Cadillac was an easy one.

“Cadillac and GM have been a fantastic brands for us,” said Del Barrio. “There’s no way we would have abandoned our customers by abandoning the brand. (EVs) is where the future is going. It would really be irresponsible on our behalf not to be on board with trying to move forward with electrification and things that are better for our environment.”