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Chris is a Phoenix native whose family has been involved in the Phoenix automotive industry since the mid 1940′s. Chris began working at his father’s Volvo dealership at the young age of eleven. In 1999 Ray Tanner Volvo was sold and Chris decided to pursue another career path. After being away from the automotive industry for nearly five years Chris and his wife Susanna decided to open their Phoenix Import Car Repair Shop, Tanner Motors in August of 2004. Chris saw the need for a honest, ethical and family based repair facility in the Metro Phoenix area. Chris and his wife Susanna have three boys. In his free time Chris enjoys coaching his kids baseball team, spending time in the outdoors and golfing.
When Ray Tanner Sr. first decided to open an auto business in 1945 he had many auto manufacturers to choose from. He began his automobile career as a partner with Ray Korte at Ray Korte Kaiser-Frazer before opening his own used car and Toyapet (now Toyota Motors) lot in 1958. He eventually moved to 1500 North Central Avenue in downtown Phoenix and sold Studebaker and Jeep vehicles. In 1965 he finally imported Swedish made Volvos to the United States and built the first Phoenix area Volvo dealership. He fell in love with the safety, reliability and comfort that all Volvos gave to him, his family and his customers. In the spring of 1972, Ray moved the dealership to 2143 West Camelback Avenue where it would stay for the next twenty-seven years. During the young days of the dealership, Ray’s oldest son and namesake, Ray Jr., began working for his father as parts runner and lot boy. No, there were no special family privileges or nepotism in this company. Ray Sr. instilled a hard work ethic in his son and Ray Jr. believed it was not only fair, but necessary, that he work his way up to the top just like any other employee. After many successful years as an office assistant, new car dealer and salesman, Ray Tanner Jr. was promoted to General Manager and eventually Vice President of the oldest running Volvo dealership in Phoenix.
When Ray Sr. decided to retire from the automotive industry in 1992, he passed the torch to his son, Ray Jr., and son-in-law, George Wylie. Together they were “Committed to Excellence” and aimed to serve the Phoenix metropolitan area with the best prices and friendliest service they could provide. George was the service manager and supervised the timely and fair repairs of all service customers while Ray became the President and C.E.O. as he encouraged his salesman to provide a no pressure, no hassle customer experience just like his father always promised. Together, with Ray Senior’s legacy supporting them, they built the most successful, customer-based Volvo dealership in the Phoenix area.
At the young age of 11, Chris Tanner, son of Ray Tanner Jr., began working for his father during the summer as a parts runner and shop cleaner. Summer after summer, Chris returned to work for his father as either a parts runner or lot attendant. After graduating from Northern Arizona University, Chris went to work for his dad once again as a new and used car salesman. It was here that he helped to develop the first Phoenix area Volvo website for the dealership and was manager of the online sales department.
After many years of serving the Phoenix community proudly, Ray Tanner Volvo transitioned to Tanner Motors.
Chris Tanner realized that there was a true need in the Phoenix community for a trustworthy Volvo repair shop.He decided to open Tanner Motors in August of 2004 and has been servicing vehicles at better prices and with better service than the mega-dealers of today. Chris brought the same work ethic and determination to serve the Phoenix Volvo community to his shop on 7th Street and Colter that his father introduced in him and his grandfather before him. In addition to the Volvo repair that Tanner is famous for, we also are now servicing BMW, Lexus, and Mini Cooper as well. Tanner Motors is proud to serve the Phoenix Volvo community in an ethical, responsible, and courteous way that is and always will be “Committed to Excellence”
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