Auto dealer expansion drives 25 new jobs

BRADENTON — J.D. Byrider, a franchise-based used car sales and financing business, has expanded to the Sarasota-Bradenton region.

The new location, the eighth in Florida for the Carmel, Ind.-based firm, is on 3907 W. 14th St., Bradenton, according to a release. The chain also has one location in Tampa, and another in Pinellas Park. The Bradenton store is the first one for J.D. Byrider franchisee Paul Maier, who plans to hire 20 to 25 people to staff it, the firm says.

“I am excited to service the Bradenton community and offer good, reliable vehicles to those with less-than-perfect credit,” Maier says in the statement.

The Bradenton location is 5,800 square feet, and includes five service bays and a customer service center, according to the company. Founded in 1989, J.D. Byrider has 123 franchise locations and 23 company-owned dealerships spread through 30 states. It opened 14 locations last year.