MARIADA STATE QUALITY DEALERS OF THE YEAR HIGHLIGHT
EXCELLENCE IS EARNED JAMES MAKIA
Named Maryland State Quality Dealer of the Year
Exclusive Motorcars, LLC is owned and operated by James Makia. In 2006, James decided to forego a career in criminal justice after selling his first car, a Ford Crown Victoria, at a Baltimore City gas station for a $1,400 profit. After discovering his passion for sales, he invested every dollar he made into procuring and selling vehicles to the public. He sold 40 units in 4 months and started his wholesale business. In just nine short months, he generated $1.5 million in revenue, garnered $200,000 in floorplan financing with Manheim Financial, and used $150,000 in capital to open his first location in the heart of Baltimore City in 2008. Exclusive Motorcars quickly outgrew the 1,000 square foot building, which housed three employees. The company moved to its current location in Randallstown, Maryland (a suburb of Baltimore), where it embarked on a $4 million renovation project to include retail sales and automotive service work. The building houses sales, service, finance, parts, and accounting on its 5-acre lot, consisting of 360 spaces. The Randallstown location went from 17 employees in 2015 to 40 employees and grew from revenues of $13.1 million to $33.1 million. James also secured a $6 million floorplan line with First Unit Bank & Trust and 15 more retail lenders, including Capital One and Ally Financial. James currently serves as Dealer Principal for Exclusive Motorcars and continues to be a hands-on leader working directly with the dealership’s core management staff to develop strategic policies and programs to drive profitable and stable growth across the company. “I’ve been blessed with varied
and unique experiences in the automotive industry, as well as worked with some incredible leaders and teammates. I firmly believe this is an entrepreneurial business, and it’s all about the people,” James said. Many of his current employees have been with the company for four or more years. His top salesperson has been there since the company’s inception when it was at its original location in Baltimore City. Says James, “I have a fantastic team, and they make me proud daily”. In addition to his full-time work at the company, James also contributes to various organizations in the community. He is a board member at Vehicles for Change which awards cars to lowincome or financially challenged families and empowers them with the means to achieve economic and personal independence through car ownership. He is a sponsor for the Randallstown High School basketball team and has been granted various citizenship awards. He received the Baltimore County Council Resolution for his distinguished and dedicated service to the citizens of Baltimore County, the Executive Citation for the services he provides to the Randallstown area, and the Certificate of Recognition in celebration of his excellent service to patrons throughout the Tri-State area and as one of the top independent used car dealers in Maryland. James’s business philosophy is simple. “Treat the customer very well, and everything else will fall in place because when it’s all said and done, the customer is the real boss.” Congratulations to James Makia on being named the Maryland State Quality Dealer of the Year! n
8 | MIDATLANTIC DEALER NEWS | MIDATLANTICAUTODEALERSUNITED.ORG • JUNE 2022
