In 1955, with the assistance and blessing of his employer, Andy opened his first dealership in Creedmoor, NC. He successfully ran South Grand Chevrolet dealership there for five years.
Our History
Humble Beginnings
W.H. "Andy" Anderson got his start in the car business when he went to work for Universal Chevrolet in Wendell, NC as a parts manager in 1948. Andy worked hard and saved every penny. After taking on more responsibility in the dealership over the next few years, he was approached by Chevrolet about an ownership opportunity.Â
From Creedmoor to Waynesville
Although he loved Creedmoor, Andy Anderson always wanted to get back home to the mountains of Western North Carolina. In 1960, he opened Anderson Chevrolet-Oldsmobile in Waynesville, NC. The dealership was successful, and Andy quickly became a stalwart in the local community.
Andy's son Fred Anderson grew up helping out at the dealership. Starting in the service and parts departments, he gradually moved into sales and learned the dealership business. When a Chevrolet dealer in a neighboring town went out of business, Fred was presented with the opportunity to take over as owner operator. In 1970 at the age of 21, Fred Anderson became the youngest Chevrolet dealer in the country.Â
Learning and Growing
After becoming the largest volume GM dealer in Western North Carolina, Fred Anderson started to expand with the acquisition of local Datsun (Nissan) and Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep dealerships in the early 1980's. During this time, and well into the future, Fred was often accompanied by his lovely wife Annette Anderson. Fred has often commented that "she was the rock that held everything together." When they were not at a dealership building the company, they were spending time with their three young children and building a family. Â
After earning a rare opportunity to open a new Toyota dealership in 1987, Fred and Annette moved from the mountains to Raleigh.Â
Opportunity in Raleigh
Once they arrived in Raleigh, Fred and Annette devoted countless hours and immeasurable effort into making "Raleigh Toyota" successful. The dealership name was later changed to Fred Anderson Toyota and has become Anderson Automotive Group's flagship operation. The Fred Anderson Toyota team in Raleigh has earned all of Toyota's highest recognitions with numerous Board of Governors, Presidents Cabinet, Customer First Advisory Board and Presidents Awards. Other dealerships have followed as the company continued to grow.
Third Generation
Fred and Annette's son Michael came aboard in the early 2000's to work in the family business. With many years of ground level experience and several more working outside of the family business, Michael Anderson worked his way through the ranks and in 2006 became General Manager of the group's newest location in Columbia, SC.
Michael transitioned from General Manager to the role VP of Sales and Marketing in 2009. This position gave him oversight of the sales operations for all dealerships in the company. The move gave Michael the opportunity to work under the veteran Jake Lowe, then the company's president, and his father in managing the enterprise during the Great Recession. The move also gave Annette the opportunity to focus on charitable work within the community and to spend quality time with her grandchildren!
Leadership Transition
ºFred Anderson currently serves as Chairman of Anderson Automotive Group. His wisdom and guidance are indispensable as the company continues to grow and adapt to ever changing market conditions. Fred was honored by the North Carolina Automotive Dealers Association with the Lifetime Achievement Award. This award was also bestowed on Fred's Father, Andy Anderson. After pouring over 50 years into Anderson Automotive Group, Fred now works just as much (or as little) as he pleases!
Michael Anderson became president of Anderson Automotive Group in 2013 and in 2018 added the title and responsibilities of CEO. Michael has introduced significant capabilities to the company by building an experienced and talented executive team, along with more robust finance, accounting, and human resource functions.
Expansion into South Carolina and Florida
In 2023, Michael spearheaded two significant acquisitions in the Greenville and Greer, South Carolina markets, expanding the company from four automotive brands and eight dealerships to twelve brands, sixteen dealerships, and two body shops. These acquisitions marked a major milestone in the company's history and demonstrated the strength of its leadership team and commitment to strategic growth. That momentum continued in 2026 as Anderson Automotive Group expanded beyond the Carolinas and into Southwest Florida. The opening of Fred Anderson Toyota of Cape Coral, followed by the addition of Lexus of Fort Myers and Fred Anderson Acura of Fort Myers, established a significant new presence for the family-owned automotive group in one of Florida's growing markets. These additions represent another exciting chapter in the company's history, bringing the Anderson family's longstanding commitment to customer service, exceptional experiences, and community involvement to Southwest Florida.
Michael recently summed up the company's growth strategy by commenting, "We believe in partnering with the best brands, in the best markets, and in opportunities where our people can win." With a history spanning more than 70 years, Anderson Automotive Group continues to build on the values established by its founders. The company has more than tripled in size under Michael's leadership, and with a strong foundation of talented people, trusted automotive brands, and a commitment to putting customers first, the Anderson family looks forward to continued growth for generations to come.
