Chariot: several decades of riding the charity road

National Automotive Dealer Day was on May 19. It is a day that recognizes the vital role local dealerships play in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and supporting their communities.

The Reporter spoke with Kokomo Platform Manager Steve Parrott from Chariot Automotive Group about Chariot’s ongoing work to give back to the communities where their dealerships are located.

Chariot stands out as a strong example of that impact. With a customer-first approach and deep community ties, Chariot represents the modern dealership, blending innovation with a genuine commitment to local service.

Parrott is responsible for streamlining operations at Chariot’s Button, McGonigal, and Academy dealerships and has been involved in community events like monthly blood drives at rotating dealerships.

“Our motto is ‘Driven to Serve,’ and we encourage our employees to serve at the charity of their choice,” Parrot told The Reporter. “When they do that, they can be paid up to 16 hours a year. They can do it in four-hour increments or eight-hour increments, but we pay them to go out and serve at a charity of their choice 16 hours a year.”

A full list of places Chariot employees have donated their time to is included in today’s edition.

Also, on Thursday, May 14, Button Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Kokomo partnered with the Red Cross to host a community blood drive at the dealership. Held from 2 to 6 p.m., the event brought community members together to help support local hospitals and patients in need through lifesaving blood donations.

The Automotive Technician Education Pathway (ATEP) program was founded at the Academy dealership, and gives high school students hands-on learning opportunities before they graduate and college credit toward an Ivy Tech degree.

“One of the things we are most proud of is that program,” Parrott said. “We have current technicians that will start off in our quick lane express and have brought them into full line technicians.”

Through Chariot’s ATEP program, high school juniors and seniors get an opportunity to learn in a classroom and through hands-on experience in the service drive of a car dealership. Students are able to earn college credit toward an automotive degree with Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo. The program works around students’ school schedules and helps them get credit for paid work.

Travis Lee, a Chariot ATEP program member, received the Postsecondary Student Award from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s Indiana Awards for Excellence Program.

The Indiana Awards for Excellence Program highlights the outstanding achievements of Career and Technical Education (CTE) students, programs, partnerships and career advisory programs around the state. The Postsecondary Student award is given to a student striving to achieve in high scholastic competence, has shown reliability and interpersonal skills, demonstrated leadership and documented outstanding ability to perform career and technical skills or tasks.

Parrott told The Reporter he’s very proud of the number of employees who have worked for Chariot a significant portion of their careers.

“We have a plethora of employees that have served the company over 20 years,” Parrott said. “Our longest-standing employee outside of the family would be a technician who’s working on 43 years.”

Chariot CEO Rex Gingerich and Vice President Lisa Hern see Chariot as a family business because, for them, it is. Their father, Ivan Gingerich, started working with the company that evolved into Chariot Automotive over 70 years ago.

“Ivan Gingerich, who got involved in 1954, helped build this business based on referrals, repeats, and relationships,” Parrott said. “He wrote handwritten notes to customers. That’s just a true testament to him and what his forward thinking was back in the 50s by handwriting notes to customers for birthdays, car anniversaries, and other things.”

At their locations in Kokomo, Tipton, and Lafayette, Chariot employs over 300 people. Chariot Automotive Group is a family-owned automotive dealership network headquartered in Kokomo. Chariot serves the transportation needs of its communities with passion, commitment, and integrity.

Learn more online at DriveChariot.com.

Organizations where Chariot has donated time or resources

• Kokomo Rescue Mission – Red Ribbon Christmas and Back to School Drive
• Food Finders
• Habitat for Humanity
• United Way
• Buddy Bags
• Kokomo Urban Outreach – holiday lights
• Crossroads Community Church
• Family Service Association – domestic violence shelter
• Kokomo Rescue Mission – Thanksgiving meal delivery
• Kokomo Career Center – student uniforms
• Safety Seat