Mazda Franchise Owner John Bening Talks About Mazdas

When John Bening opened up Bening Mazda in Cape Girardeau, MO in 2003, many customers were intrigued that the former devotee of American cars like Ford would start specializing in the Japanese Mazda line. It does turn out that Mazda has a partnership with Ford, after all, so customers may not be so surprised to find out that John Bening, who also owns Ford franchises, would be interested in partnering with the Japanese company. But John Bening has a lot of other reasons for the partnership as well.

John Bening says that one reason for the franchise buy is his experience with customers. According to John Bening, customers like Mazdas as a reliable but affordable car that comes with a little bit more style than an American sedan, like, for example, a Ford. John Bening says that Mazdas are often rated very high in their class, ranking in the top five in reports like U.S. News Best Cars. This year, for example, John Bening says that the Mazda CX-9 rated number 1 in affordable midsize SUVS, the Mazda 3 was #3 in affordable small cars, and the Mazda MX-5 Miata was number 2 in “Best Sports Car for the Money.” Safety ratings were also high for Mazdas, which John Bening says is a top concern for customers, especially those with families.

Another plus: Mazda offers a huge range of vehicle options. John Bening says that when he was shopping for franchises, Mazda stood out because they offered something for every generation. With hatchbacks appealing to the younger crowd, solid minivans for those with young families, and truck and SUV options for those needing large storage capacity, John Bening saw an opportunity in Mazda to reach all types of customers.

Innovation was also key in John Bening’s decision. Mazda, according to John Bening, is a frontrunner in terms of gas efficiency and developing new technologies in the use of bio-materials in car interiors.