BMW DEALERSHIP TO EXPAND.

Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS - The ``ultimate driving machine'' is revving up its presence in Thousand Oaks, as Paul Rusnak plans to remodel BMW's current site, with the possibility of opening a new dealership on Auto Mall Drive by summer 2002.

Rusnak, the owner of 11 dealerships specializing in BMW, Porsche and Audi sales throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties, is broadening BMW's existence in response to an increase in demand.

``To keep up with demand, you either grow, or you die,'' Rusnak said.

The new dealership will be built on three acres of vacant land that runs parallel with Auto Mall Drive and sits between South Cord Avenue and South Marmon Avenue.

Currently, new Audis and BMWs sit amid weeds and gravel in the new lot, Rusnak said.

Before breaking ground, the BMW showroom off East Thousand Oaks Boulevard is undergoing renovations, with completion expected by August.

``We are gutting and redoing the building, which will grow from a three-vehicle showroom to an eight-vehicle showroom,'' said David Pierce, general manager of BMW, Audi and Porsche in Thousand Oaks.

In addition to showroom expansion, the dealership's service bays will increase from 12 to 24.

Construction on the existing BMW dealership and the purchase of land cost $15 million, Pierce said.

While U.S. auto sales were down 5 percent in March to 793,433 from 837,898 a year ago, Rusnak said he has consistently seen an increase in sales of luxury cars over the past few years.

Whether Porsche, Audi or BMW, sales have risen 20 percent a year for each make, Rusnak said. BMW remains the most popular among new car buyers; this year Rusnak plans to sell 1,020 new BMWs.

``And right now we're selling 200 cars a month for the three dealerships in Thousand Oaks,'' he said.

BMW has been in Thousand Oaks since since 1984, while Porsche and Audi arrived in 1981.

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Existing Rusnak site