Thank you to Lithia team members Julius “JC” Brown and Brittany Osterhout for providing information for this article.
We’ve all seen the big, modern building beside Pear Blossom Park many times. It’s the corporate headquarters for Lithia Motors & Driveway (Lithia’s online platform for vehicle sales).
That building is more than just a high-level office building. It represents 80 years of growth and success of a local southern Oregon business and a monumental contribution to good works in our community and elsewhere.
Litha Motors began in 1946 when Walt DeBoer opened a Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge dealership in Ashland. In 1968, Walt’s son Sid DeBoer took over the business and incorporated Lithia Motors, Inc.
Sid reorganized the business, and in 1970 purchased a Dodge dealership in Medford. With this, Lithia’s base of operation moved to Medford and Sid and Dick Heimann grew the company to a total of five stores with 19 franchises by 1990. In December 1996, the company went public, trading on the New York Stock Exchange, and eventually becoming a Fortune 500 Company.
As of December 31, 2024, Lithia operated 459 dealership locations across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and the company employed approximately 30,000 people worldwide. Sid’s son Bryan DeBoer is now President and CEO.
Lithia & Driveway provide many different sponsorships across the country in an effort to give back to the communities that they do business in. Their largest initiative is their Technical School Partnership, where they donate to trade schools to help further the education of the next generation of auto techs. They are also proud to support Vehicles for Veterans, a way to honor those who have served our country by providing them with a payment-free new vehicle.
In the Rogue Valley, both their Home Office and their local dealerships support numerous causes that are important and personal to team members. They have been the title sponsor for the Pear Blossom Parade, Winter Tree Lighting, and Ashland 4th of July Parade for many years, giving back directly to the community that they have called home for 80 years. Their presence working with the Special Olympics’ Annual Polar Plunge has grown over the years, going from a few dealership employees taking the plunge, to multiple dealerships across the nation taking the plunge.
Some wonderful causes that have been spearheaded by employees and supported by Lithia include hosting and participating in various walks such as the Walk for Epilepsy, the Altheimer’s Association, and Walk for Hope. They have also been working with SO Humane, Dogs for Better Lives, and C.A.T.S. for the last few years.
Lithia takes special pride in supporting the kids of their communities. Through their Lithia4Kids program, they give back to hundreds of charities across the country that support youth and youth programs. Locally, they work closely with the Boys and Girls Club, throwing a Summer Activity Day for them and inviting them aboard the Polar Express at an activity night where they also partner with the City of Medford. They help donate and deliver Christmas gifts to C.A.S.A, support ACCESS by hosting a food drive at their dealerships and Home Office every November, and most recently they are the title sponsor for the Sparrow Club’s “Dancing with the Rogue Valley Stars.”
Annually on Earth Day, Litha partners with SOLVE for a state-wide trash pick-up. On April 22, Lithia & Driveway and SOLVE partnered with Downtown Medford Association to host the inaugural Pick It Up, Medford! The event began at Pear Blossom Park, where volunteers of all ages spread out across downtown streets and nearby green spaces to remove litter and refresh shared community areas, helping to create a cleaner and more welcoming Downtown Medford.
DMA thanks Lithia for their many contributions to Downtown Medford – those listed above and also their sponsorship of downtown flower baskets and holiday lights and donation of printing of DMA outreach materials – and their general support for Downtown Medford!