CarMax pledges to be Dayton area’s No. 1 used car store

Forty-seven of the top 50 used car stores in the U.S., by volume, are CarMax stores, Folliard said .

Tim Swift, chairman of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association , likened the arrival of CarMax in a community to the arrival of Walmart. It represents more competition on a larger scale.

CarMax sites dwarf most competitors’ used car lots. For example, the West Carrollton store, 3555 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, will have 250 to 350 vehicles for sale and the ability to transfer autos from more than 100 other CarMax sites, Folliard said.

Used car sales outpace new car sales locally and nationally. The recession has hurt the sale of both new and used cars, but used car sales have dropped less, Folliard said.

Ken Smiley Jr., owner of Ken’s Kars in Dayton, agreed used cars sell well in good times and bad. Smiley is confident he and other dealers can compete with CarMax.

“I think ... they’ll continue to buy from the reputable dealers,” Smiley said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.