At the Springhill Automotive Group, we are committed to providing you with the best shopping experience in the industry.
We carry the brands you love along with stress-free buying options and exceptional service.
Shop our new, factory certified, and pre-owned vehicles today!
Our History
The Springhill Automotive Group was founded in Mobile, Alabama, in 1999, building on a long-standing family legacy in the automotive industry. Co-Founder Tal Vickers began his career in the car business in 1995 at Courtesy Honda in Memphis,Tennessee, working alongside his stepfather, John C. Dobbs, as part of the Dobbs Automotive Group. In 1997, the Dobbs' family sold the group to Republic Industries, a company that would later become AutoNation.
Following the sale, brothers Tal Vickers and Jay Dobbs were presented with a unique opportunity to repurchase Springhill Toyota and Lexus of Mobile from AutoNation. That acquisition became the foundation and beginning of the Springhill Automotive Group.
As 4th generation car dealers, the Dobbs' family has been in the car business since 1921. It all began when James K Dobbs Sr. and Mr. Horace Hull opened Hull-Dobbs Ford at the corner of Third St and Gayoso behind the Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis. By the 1930's Hull-Dobbs Ford had become the largest Ford store in the United States, and they eventually grew their group to over 50 Ford locations across the country.
In the late 1940's, after WWII, they developed the Hull-Dobbs System which effectively gave salespeople skin in the game by giving them a percentage of the profits from the sale. It was considered profit sharing back then; today we call them commissions. They were also the first dealer group to give a percentage of ownership to their managing partners. This is one of the main cornerstones of the Springhill Automotive Group.
James K Dobbs and Horace Hull both died in the 1960's but left behind an incredible legacy for generations to come. The second generation of James K Dobbs, Jr. and John Hull Dobbs, Sr. continued to grow the family business and expand into other industries such as airline catering, restaurants, and Anheuser-Busch distributorships. The third generation of John C. Dobbs and Jimmy Dobbs expanded the automotive sector by taking on new brands such as Honda and Toyota. They successfully operated the Dobbs Automotive Group until 1997 when they sold to Republic Industries.
Since 1999, the Springhill Automotive Group has served the Mobile area and communities across the Southeast with a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction and community involvement. That commitment helped fuel the group's growth, beginning with the acquisition of Honda of Jasper in 2009. Hyundai of Jasper followed in 2010, and continued expansion included Lithia Springs Ford in 2019, Toyota of Bristol in 2022, and Kia and Volkswagen of Daphne in 2023. In 2025, Springhill Automotive Group returned to its roots in the Memphis market with the acquisition of Serra Chevrolet of Bartlett, which became Dobbs Brothers Chevrolet of Bartlett—continuing a proud automotive legacy that spans generations.
Since its formation, Springhill Automotive Group has remained committed to customer-focused service, strong community ties, and a multi-generation automotive tradition built on trust, integrity, and long-term relationships. Today, the fifth generation is actively learning the business, and the organization continues to pursue growth opportunities for the future.
Our Mission
At the Springhill Automotive Group our mission is to hire, train, promote, and empower our associates to establish long term relationships with our customers and the communities we serve. Through this mission, we aim to create "customers for life". A commitment to quality treatment, honesty, and integrity helps us build long-term communities, and our dealerships. Through our mission, we're able to foster a positive environment for all and put the Springhill Automotive Group at the forefront of car buying and vehicle service in the United States.
