Matthews Motors
Matthews Motors is a family-owned used car dealership founded in 1994, operating two locations in Clayton and Wilmington, North Carolina, serving retail consumers seeking inspected pre-owned vehicles, in-house financing, and ongoing service under a Lifetime Powertrain Warranty.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersClayton, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Matthews Motors does
Matthews Motors is a family-owned, private used car dealership founded in 1994 and headquartered in Clayton, North Carolina, with a second branch in Wilmington. The company sells pre-owned and certified pre-owned vehicles across multiple categories — including Ford, Honda, Nissan, and selected luxury models, with sub-brands for bargain inventory (under $20,000) and hybrid/electric vehicles — and offers a Lifetime Powertrain Warranty on qualifying units as its primary differentiator. Its product surface spans three revenue streams: vehicle sales (one-time transactions), in-house and lender-arranged financing (including for subprime credit), and an in-house service center handling multi-brand maintenance and repairs with genuine parts.
The business operates a localized omnichannel model: physical lots in Clayton and Wilmington drive the majority of transactions, supported by a website that enables inventory browsing, test-drive scheduling, online financing applications, and service booking. Marketing is concentrated in the North Carolina draw area via a model-specific blog (Ford F-150, Escape, Mustang, Explorer; Honda CR-V, HR-V, Accord; Nissan Altima, Rogue, Sentra), an Instagram presence (@matthewsmotorsnc), and SEO targeting adjacent communities including Raleigh, Garner, Leland, Wrightsville Beach, and Carolina Beach. A "We Buy Cars" trade-in program supplies inventory from private sellers in addition to traditional auction and wholesaler channels.
The company is privately held with no institutional investors, no public ticker, and no disclosed funding events. Leadership is anchored by founder Steve Matthews. The operation is mid-sized for an independent retailer (51-100 employees, two locations), and revenue is not publicly disclosed. No patents, certifications, awards, M&A activity, or AI/ML capability are documented in the source material. The core technical stack is a conventional dealership e-commerce platform with standard inventory search and F&I application workflows — no proprietary technology, APIs, or data assets are evident.
Matthews Motors firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Matthews Motors
- Legal name
- Matthews Motors Group
- Website
- https://matthewsmotors.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Matthews Motors is a family-owned used car dealership founded in 1994, operating two locations in Clayton and Wilmington, North Carolina, serving retail consumers seeking inspected pre-owned vehicles, in-house financing, and ongoing service under a Lifetime Powertrain Warranty.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Matthews Motors industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Used Vehicle Dealership
- NAICS
- Used Car Dealers (441120), Other Motor Vehicle Dealers (4412), Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers (441330)
- SIC
- Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores (5531)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Auto & Vehicle Loan Brokerage (FSAEAEAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- New & Used Auto Purchase Loans (FSAKADAA)
Keywords
Where Matthews Motors is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Clayton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Matthews Motors business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Vehicle Sales: Matthews Motors generates primary revenue through the sale of pre-owned vehicles including cars, trucks, SUVs, and luxury models. They offer certified pre-owned vehicles and vehicles under $20,000.
- Financing Services: The dealership provides in-house financing solutions and works with multiple lenders to help customers secure auto loans regardless of credit history.
- Service and Maintenance: Full-service maintenance and repair center offering routine maintenance, repairs, and service specials using genuine parts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Used Vehicles - Variable Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Matthews Motors product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Matthews Motors is a family-owned used car dealership that retails inspected pre-owned cars, trucks, SUVs, luxury vehicles, and hybrid/electric models from brands such as Ford, Honda, and Nissan across two North Carolina locations. Revenue is completed through in-house and lender-arranged auto financing, a We Buy Cars trade-in program, and a multi-brand service and maintenance center, all anchored by a Lifetime Powertrain Warranty on qualifying inventory.
Product overview
Matthews Motors is a family-owned used car dealership operating since 1994 with two locations (Clayton and Wilmington, NC). The company offers a unified pre-owned vehicle sales platform with multiple inventory sub-brands: certified pre-owned vehicles, luxury vehicles, bargain inventory (under $20k), and hybrid/electric vehicles. The core product is complemented by integrated add-on services including vehicle financing, trade-in programs (We Buy Cars), a service center for maintenance and repairs, and the signature Lifetime Powertrain Warranty. The company specializes in Ford (F-150, Escape, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, Ranger), Nissan (Altima, Rogue, Sentra), and Honda (CR-V, HR-V, Accord) vehicles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pre-Owned Vehicle Sales Sale of inspected pre-owned cars, trucks, and SUVs from brands such as Ford, Honda, Nissan, and luxury manufacturers to individual consumers across North Carolina.
- Certified Pre-Owned Inventory Pre-owned vehicles that have undergone a rigorous multi-point inspection and meet strict quality and safety standards, backed by additional warranty coverage.
- Luxury Vehicles Premium pre-owned luxury sedans and SUVs for customers seeking upscale vehicles at used-car pricing.
- Bargain Inventory (Vehicles Under $20,000) Affordable pre-owned vehicles priced under $20,000 targeted at budget-conscious buyers.
- Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Pre-owned hybrid and electric vehicles, including models such as the Ford Escape Hybrid, for fuel-efficient commuting.
- Vehicle Financing Flexible financing and leasing options arranged through in-house resources and partnerships with local and national lenders, serving customers regardless of credit history.
- We Buy Cars (Trade-In Program) Program that allows customers to sell or trade in their current vehicles directly to Matthews Motors.
- Service and Maintenance Center Multi-brand vehicle maintenance and repair services using genuine parts, with service specials and coupons, available at both North Carolina locations.
- Lifetime Powertrain Warranty Signature lifetime powertrain warranty covering qualifying pre-owned vehicles, providing long-term protection and peace of mind on major drivetrain components.
Quantifiable outcome
- Vehicles inspected to meet strict safety and quality standards
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Matthews Motors
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Matthews Motors technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Matthews Motors partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Matthews Motors competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Leith Automotive Group: Leith Automotive Group is a large family-owned NC dealer group (Aberdeen/Raleigh area) with multiple brands and used vehicle operations — directly overlapping Matthews Motors' NC geography with similar independent family-owned positioning and integrated used vehicle and service offerings.
- Hendrick Automotive Group: Hendrick Automotive Group is the largest privately-held dealer group in the US, headquartered in Charlotte, NC with dealerships statewide — a direct Southeast regional peer serving overlapping NC metro populations and offering comparable new/used, F&I, and service capabilities.
Broad incumbents
- Asbury Automotive Group: Asbury Automotive Group is a large national dealer group with new/used vehicle franchises, Clicklane digital retail, and Total Care Auto F&I products — a broad incumbent comparable on used vehicle retail, integrated financing, and service center operations.
- AutoNation: AutoNation is the largest US automotive retailer with both new and used vehicle franchises, integrated financing (AutoNation Finance), and used car operations across multiple brands — overlaps with Matthews Motors on the used vehicle, F&I, and service dimensions but at vastly greater scale and broader product mix.
- Sonic Automotive: Sonic Automotive is a Fortune 500 dealer group with EchoPark used vehicle stores and franchise new car dealerships across the US — a broad incumbent in the used car retail space, comparable in multi-channel retail and F&I capabilities though much larger and publicly traded.
- Group 1 Automotive: Group 1 Automotive is a large multi-brand dealer group with ~200 US and UK dealerships operating new/used vehicle sales, financing, and service — a broad incumbent relevant to Matthews Motors for operating model and F&I/service benchmarks despite differing scale.
Direct peers
- Vroom: Vroom is an online used car retailer offering home delivery, financing, and trade-ins across multiple US markets — directly comparable as a digital-first used vehicle retailer competing for many of the same buyers Matthews Motors serves, though Vroom has faced significant operational restructuring.
- DriveTime: DriveTime is the largest "buy here, pay here" used car dealer specializing in subprime/credit-challenged buyers with in-house financing — directly comparable to Matthews Motors' positioning of "financing available regardless of credit history" and similar subprime customer base.
- CarMax: CarMax is the largest used vehicle retailer in the US with a national footprint of superstores and online platform, directly comparable as a used-only dealer offering financing, trade-ins, and reconditioning — Matthews Motors competes in the same product category for many of the same buyers.
- Carvana: Carvana pioneered the online-only used car purchase and delivery model with no-haggle pricing, integrated financing, and a 7-day return policy — directly competing for the same digitally-engaged used vehicle buyer Matthews Motors targets through its online inventory platform.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Matthews Motors social profiles
Digital presenceMatthews Motors financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Matthews Motors leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Matthews Motors funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Matthews Motors M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Matthews Motors
What does Matthews Motors do?
Matthews Motors is a family-owned used car dealership that retails inspected pre-owned cars, trucks, SUVs, luxury vehicles, and hybrid/electric models from brands such as Ford, Honda, and Nissan across two North Carolina locations. Revenue is completed through in-house and lender-arranged auto financing, a We Buy Cars trade-in program, and a multi-brand service and maintenance center, all anchored by a Lifetime Powertrain Warranty on qualifying inventory.
Is Matthews Motors a public or private company?
Matthews Motors is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Matthews Motors founded?
Matthews Motors was founded in 1994. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Matthews Motors based?
Matthews Motors is headquartered in Clayton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Matthews Motors make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Vehicle Sales are the primary driver. The others are financing Services and service and Maintenance.
Who are Matthews Motors's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Leith Automotive Group and Hendrick Automotive Group. Broad incumbents are Asbury Automotive Group, AutoNation, Sonic Automotive and Group 1 Automotive. Direct peers are Vroom, DriveTime, CarMax and Carvana.
Does Matthews Motors have an API?
No public API is recorded for Matthews Motors.
What industry is Matthews Motors in?
Matthews Motors's product category is Used Vehicle Dealership. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAEAK, Auto & Vehicle Loan Brokerage, with a secondary code of FSAKADAA, New & Used Auto Purchase Loans. Its NAICS code is 441120 and its SIC code is 5531.