In 1992, Sébastien Bisaillon, the founder of Automobile En Direct, worked as a sales representative and then sales director for Viau Ford in St. Remi, a small town located on the South Shore of Montreal, in Quebec.
It is in 2001 that Sébastien Bisaillon, a man with a passion for automobiles and much ambition, decided to found his own company specializing in used-car sales, in St. Constant.
With $5,000 in his pocket and two vehicles in inventory, Bisaillon Automobiles was born.
The company experienced phenomenal growth! Bisaillon Automobiles becomes Grossiste En Direct.com and moves to Route 132, still in St. Constant.
In 2007, Grossiste En Direct.com becomes Automobile En Direct.com at St-Constant. The concept of used-vehicle sales takes shape, the team expands and Automobile En Direct’s sales reach the 900 vehicle-a-year mark.
Automobile En Direct builds an enviable reputation on the market. A 2nd location opens its doors: Automobile En Direct St. Hubert, on the south shore of Montreal, which allows them to meet the demand and satisfy an ever-increasing clientele.
The company’s sales climb to more than 1,700 used vehicles sold that year.
Automobile En Direct wants to become THE reference for the used-car purchasing experience in Canada, both remotely and at the dealership, aspiring to offer the largest selection of quality used vehicles to its customers, at the best price. The growth continues in 2010, with over 3,000 vehicles sold.
The growth accelerates once more to attain 3 016 used-car sales.
Always with the goal of responding to demand and the growing number of customers, Automobile En Direct opens a 3rd location in the West Island : Automobile En Direct West Island.
Automobile En Direct creates its intranet to enhance communications, which also allows them to centralize internal documents and improve follow-up on customer files.
Sales reach a record 4,149 vehicles sold.
The year 2013 marks a major turning point in the success of the company. The first Automobile En Direct dealership will be replaced by a new location. Still situated in St. Constant, this new dealership will allow them to bring their administrative services and a new used-car showroom under one roof.
The St. Hubert dealership then wants to transform itself, in the image of the new St. Constant location. The renovations go forward! Automobile En Direct celebrates its 15 years of existence and unfettered growth, surpassing 5,700 vehicles sold.
The St. Constant location undergoes further expansion and officially houses the company’s head office. A new strategic development plan is established, focusing on the acquisition of new-car dealerships. Automobile En Direct sales surpass 7,800 units.
2019 marks a new chapter for Automobile En Direct with the opening of its first dealership on the north shore of Montreal, in Laval: Automobile En Direct Laval. Strategically situated bordering Autoroute 15, the success of this new location is assured.
Customers from the north shore and Montreal will now have access to an exceptional selection of brands and models of used vehicles.
The objective of Automobile En Direct is now set to reaching 10,000 vehicles sold by 2020.
When the pandemic hit, Automobile En Direct had no choice but to roll up its sleeves in order to find ways to adapt and re-invent itself. By creating the 100% online purchasing procedure (buying remotely and home delivery) the company was able to remain open and operational.
The 7-day Satisfaction or Exchange Warranty was then created in order to reassure customers about using this new buying process and thus assuring their complete satisfaction. Automobile En Direct is even more proud that they were the first dealership to offer this type of guaranty in Quebec.
A completely new web platform, high-performing, modern and optimized for mobile, was then launched in November of 2020. The automobile industry worldwide was subsequently hit hard by a shortage of vehicles.
Thanks to its experienced teams of buyers, Automobile En Direct succeeds in acquiring vehicles and even attains a procurement record. Due to the agility and quality of its teams, the company experienced phenomenal growth during these 3 years, despite a completely uncertain economic context.
In 2021, Automobile En Direct is recognized, for the first time, as being among the 300 largest corporations in Quebec by Les Affaires.
Another feather was added to its cap in 2022: the launch of its totally transactional website. Following that, the warranty program was expanded from 7 to 30 days, becoming the 30-day Satisfaction or Exchange program.
Opening of a new branch in Gatineau. Strategically located 15 minutes from downtown Gatineau, on Boulevard Saint-Joseph:Automobile En Direct Gatineau.
Customers in the Outaouais region can now enjoy our wide selection of used car brands and models.
Automobile En Direct plans to continue to serve its customers to the best of their ability, by being the most accessible possible.
The company will therefore seek to expand everywhere in Quebec, even into other territories.
Automobile En Direct will also see to the constant optimization of its online purchasing platform as well as perfecting its customer service and expertise.