A New Holland auto dealership has formed a partnership with a Harrisburg dealership to accelerate its business.

The owners of Ziemer Buick Pontiac GMC here have joined with the owner of Turner Buick, converting the local dealership's name to Turner Buick Pontiac GMC.

"This is a great opportunity to grow the store," said Rich MacHenry of Ziemer Buick on Tuesday.

MacHenry and his brother-in-law, Kurt Ziemer, each owned half of Ziemer Buick, a 40-employee dealership established by Ziemer's father, Dick, in 1960.

In the newly formed partnership, MacHenry and Ziemer are minority owners and vice presidents, while Harrisburg dealership owner Lee Turner is the majority owner.

The change will mean more inventory and efficiency for the 612 E. Main St. business, said MacHenry, though its on-site management, sales staff and service staff are unchanged.

"Our store has always been a good, successful operation," he said. "We're just going to make it better."

Its goal is to increase its inventory of new vehicles from 70-to-80 to 100, and raise its pre-owned inventory from 40-to-50 vehicles to 60-to-70.

At the same time, being part of the Turner organization, which also includes a Chevrolet dealership in Loysville, Perry County, will lead to savings in insurance and other operating expenses.

"We've known Lee and his organization for more than 20 years," said MacHenry. "So when Lee approached us, we knew it would be a great fit, business-wise and finance-wise."

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