GEORGETOWN, TEXAS 11/9/2023, Hewlett Volkswagen, one of Central Texas’ beloved and premier Volkswagen dealers, has reopened its doors to a completely renovated state-of-the-art facility that nods to the progressive future of automotive retail and electric vehicles (EVs). The open space and architecture of the facility was intentionally designed to match the already warm and friendly environment created by the sales, service, and management team.

Along with the beautifully redesigned showroom comes an enhanced and optimized service center specifically designed to meet the exact needs of customers, ranging from a routine oil change to scheduling a more specialized vehicle service. The goal being to get customers and their families back on the road quickly and safely.

John Chauvin, Hewlett Volkswagen General Manager stated, “We have been working on the redesign of the VW dealership for nearly five years and are excited to see it come to fruition. The design is unique to the area and incorporates larger spaces in both the sales and service departments reducing wait times and making the in-store experience very pleasant.”

This truly recharged facility allows for more than just an aesthetic appeal, having one of the largest selections of Volkswagen SUVs and EVs in Central Texas including the all-electric ID.4, the 7 passenger Atlas and the fuel-efficient Taos.

You are cordially invited to visit our new sales showroom, VW parts counter, and service center at 7951 Hewlett Loop, Georgetown, TX 78626.

About Hewlett Volkswagen
Since opening our doors in August 2001, Hewlett Volkswagen has been on a path of steady growth fueled by hard work, planning and earning the steadfast loyalty of both employees and customers through exceptional customer service.
New, Certified, & Pre-Owned Sales: Monday – Saturday from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Service: Monday – Friday from 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Saturday from 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM

First, let me reassure you, the smell is not coming from you. Second, if your car sits outside all the time, the odor can be even worse. But don’t worry, we can help!
Air conditioners have a cold component behind your dash area called an evaporator. This is the part that makes your cabin air colder. And just like that icy cold glass of sweet tea on your table, it sweats… a lot. In fact, it sweats so much, there is a specialized drain for the case the evaporator sits in. This thing leaks water all the time because the evaporator sweats; making it a great environment for bacteria and mold to grow. And, again, if your car sits outside where it gets up to 90 and 100+, these things grow and multiply. Pretty soon things start to smell. And to make matters worse, all the organic matter in the air like pollen, leaves, seed pods, insect parts, and dander can find their way into the evaporator case turning it into a warm, moist, dark, microbial kegger for mold and bacteria. There is a filter (sometimes called a pollen or cabin air filter) that keeps a lot of these undesirables out but that can start to smell foul too when it gets filled with this debris.

Helpful tip #1: Replace the pollen filter. This is cheap and easy. Volkswagen recommends doing it every couple of years or 20,000 miles. The new maintenance schedules can stretch out to 60,000 miles, but that is like replacing the A/C filter in your house every three years!

Helpful tip #2: Get the charcoal filter. There are a few types of filters in Volkswagens. Some are plain paper like your house A/C and some are charcoal impregnated. The charcoal helps with odors and is similar in price to the plain paper ones. If someone will not sell you a charcoal activated cabin or pollen filter, go somewhere else.

Helpful tip #3: If you have severe allergies replace the filter every year preferably right after cedar season!

Helpful tip #4: If none of this helps and the microbial kegger has been going on for a while, you will want to treat the interior of your evaporator system with an antimicrobial chemical. Replace your filter at the same time for the best results.

I always tell everyone to fix safety related items before you fix the optional or secondary concerns. With ambient temperatures continuing in the three digits, air conditioners become safety items especially for very young or very old passengers. These tips are meant to be helpful in making owning your Volkswagen something to smile about.

As always, Happy motoring.

Tom Fornshell

As I walk around the new construction, I am in awe of the space the new facility will have. While I don’t have the actual square footage of the buildings before and after memorized, it looks like the showroom, service department, service write-up area and service drive lanes all have doubled in size. Not only is it much larger, it looks totally different both inside and outside. Seriously, if you walk into the front door, about the only thing recognizable is the half spiral staircase that was in the showroom. Everything else has expanded, moved, and taken on an entirely new look.

Windows are in, sheetrock is up (taped and floated), floor tile is starting to be installed and the air conditioner is on. The original restrooms have taken on a major overhaul and are much larger now. We’ve added additional restrooms to the service write-up area and have expanded the waiting room. This place is amazing, and I cannot wait to see the finish-out work as it gets completed.
As for the parking lot, we have carved a driveway between our VW store and our Collision Center. The first few rows in front of the Collision Center will be turned into added display areas for new vehicles adding multiple parking spaces for us to stock even more inventory than years past.
As for current business: I’ll admit, we were a little concerned about how moving into a temporary location (just 2 doors down) would affect normal business. To my delight, I’m excited to say, business increased. Yes, our old Hummer building has tons of parking for inventory which allows us to stock more cars, but one never knows how things will go when you “move their cheese” so to speak. We’ve added staff to accommodate for this growth, which also helps shorten the time spent when purchasing a new or pre-owned vehicle from us.
I’m also proud to say, with added staff, more inventory, great deals and shorter wait times, we’ve moved into the Top 15 largest volume Volkswagen dealers in the entire nation. And we did it from a temporary location! Our next goal is to move into the top 10 which I’m extremely confident we’ll accomplish when we move into this new facility in just a few short months.
Stay tuned for the GRAND OPENING celebration event. We’re planning a big one and you’re invited!
Thank you very much for your business!
John Chauvin – General Manager
Hewlett Volkswagen, LP

As each day, week and month go by – progress on our new building seems to take another step towards the finish line. Not that we’re all that close to completion, our time frame is still September, October but watching the workers doing their thing is fun and exciting when I go visit the site. They really get a lot done each day.

Our now “mega-expanded” service shop area is about 98% complete. There are a few small items still to finish but the technicians are back in the shop with lots of extra space, new equipment, new toolboxes, new breakroom, and fresh bright white paint all over. With all this fresh, clean, newness all around them, the technicians seem to really enjoy their workspace because I see smiles on their faces every day.

The service drive itself is being expanded to three-lanes. The service write-up area is being reconfigured in such a way that each advisor faces the drive. This allows for better visibility to help customers as soon as they pull in. We’re also adding restrooms to the customer waiting area for your convenience.

Showroom: What can I say, along with all of VW’s EV elements we’re adding, the actual size of the showroom itself will almost double. As you may have seen, the front of the building has been demolished and the iron support beams are going up. As I walk around, I can get a real feel for the actual size now that the perimeter beams and roof supports are in place.

With all the new Volkswagen EV elements we’re constructing, new furniture for the entire dealership, and a modern look from front to back, Hewlett Volkswagen is on track to be a flagship facility for the brand.

We feel like Georgetown and the entire Austin market is the perfect place to showcase this all-new Volkswagen facility and we really can’t wait for it to be complete and have you at our ribbon cutting. Stay tuned as we’ll announce those dates soon.

Of course, we’re still going strong at our temporary location (two doors down). Our turn rates on new cars have been so high that VW has awarded us with additional inventory. We now have more new and pre-owned vehicles than we’ve had in over two years. Come see us!

We look forward to serving you!

By Samantha Gomez, Service Drive Manager

With new technology always in development our vehicles become smarter and more intelligent every year. A Volkswagen is equipped with multiple monitors that are continuously working for you while you are behind the wheel to ensure that you are well informed of the vehicle’s health and safety. 

The old days of knowing when something was wrong with your vehicle typically involved being broken down and stuck on the side of the road. With today’s smart vehicles those days are practically gone. Technology has provided us with early warning signs so that the driver knows exactly when service and maintenance are needed.

I understand that it can be alarming to suddenly receive a message on the dashboard or have a warning indicator pop up. What I explain to my guests is this: think of the warning indicator as a traffic light. Green is ‘good’, yellow is ‘caution’ and red is ‘stop’. Green indicators may be items such as ‘push foot on brake pedal to start’ or ‘daytime running lights are on’. A few examples of yellow indicators are tire pressures need attention, exterior bulb is inoperative, windshield washer fluid low or an engine light indicator. If a warning light is flashing or a red warning indicator appears, the vehicle should not be driven and should be towed to the dealership.

Please take a few moments to review the Warning Light Guide. Remember, you can always visit KnowYourVW.com or refer to your owner’s manual for further information. Don’t forget, you can always give us a call at 512-681-3500 and we will be happy to help.

Safe motoring! 

Hewlett Volkswagen is undergoing a massive remodel and we couldn’t be more excited. Due to the size and scope of this undertaking, the project has several phases and they’re all coming along quite nicely.

The first phase was to expand the service workshop area. We started with the north side, tore out the old asphalt, replaced the base and poured the slab to withstand the new addition. In doing so, we had to build a temporary wall down the middle of the shop and move a few technicians over to the south side of the building. This also required us to move a few technicians over to our Chevrolet shop. That phase was the first to be completed. All the new lifts and equipment were installed, and the technicians have all moved back in. The north side of the shop was next, doing the same thing. That phase is within a few weeks of completion and all the technicians will be back in the same building very soon.

Next was our service drive. If you’ve driven by, you may have noticed our two-lane service drive awning was torn down to make room for the new and enclosed three-lane addition. All that concrete has been poured and the steel structures are up.
The contractor then started the demo on the showroom. The glass came out, the walls came down and – you guessed it, more concrete poured. Our showroom will be expanded on all three sides, the front, the north, and the south.

The completion date is set for late August. We’re very fortunate to be able to operate out of a temporary site on the Hewlett campus that’s just two doors down. It was our old “Hummer” building and although I say old, it’s really not old at all. Considering most dealers must operate out of a trailer during a remodel of this size, our temporary facility has a lot of great features including a comfortable waiting area and plenty of parking for our customers and our expanding inventory of new and used vehicles.

While we perform the actual service on your vehicle at the newly remodeled shop, Hewlett Volkswagen’s service write up area is 2 doors down at the temporary location too (Hummer building) as many of you have already experienced.
Stay tuned for news on our HUGE ribbon cutting celebration as we get closer to completion. We’d love to have you out to tour the new facility.

John Chauvin
General Manager – Hewlett Volkswagen

We’ve been planning, drawing, designing, changing, dreaming, you name it – all for this moment. Hewlett Volkswagen is now under renovation. As you may be aware, we’ve moved two doors down to our old Hewlett Hummer building. That facility is extremely nice and has a huge parking lot for all our inventory. The service drive is also located in that building, which is where you bring your vehicle for service now.

Progress is being made.
The north side of the shop on the original building is the side we expanded first. It’s completed, open and fully functional. We moved our technicians to that side so the construction team can start to expand the south side of the shop. In conjunction with the south side service demo, they’ve started the demolition of the showroom. Yes, our original VW building is almost non-recognizable now as they seem to knock-down and haul off huge sections daily.

Obviously our temporary location (old Hummer building) is well marked with signage and directions as to how to get there if you accidently go to the original location. Both sales and service write up (pick up and drop off) is at that location so there’s no need to go to the old location until we move back in.

While we apologize for this minor inconvenience, we invite you to come visit because our temporary location is quite impressive and spacious – complete with a full customer lounge stocked with refreshments and comfy chairs.

We will update as progress continues, until then: happy motoring!

John Chauvin – GM
Hewlett Volkswagen, LP

By John Chauvin, General Manager

By now the entire world knows there are production problems no matter what type of product or “widget” you produce. The blame can be placed in many different areas starting from Covid to micro-chip shortages, global supply chain disruptions, lack of workforce, high labor costs, and maybe even inflation. And that’s just naming a few. The list could go on forever if one were to take a survey of who to blame.

Good companies have adjusted, created “work arounds” so to speak, adapted and continued to move forward. Some have not.

I do have to credit the auto industry and its willingness to adjust. Of course, this does not come without its own set of issues and not all auto manufacturers have done it the same. Let’s talk about Volkswagen for, well, obvious reasons.

The question Volkswagen of America (VWoA) has asked its Nation Dealer Advisory Council (NDAC) is “do we continue building product with a reduced amount of content (options) when we cannot get a particular part or stop production for that model line all together”? Even if it’s only one option they cannot obtain.

This is an issue because trim levels typically come “standard” with a certain set of options and those standard options are what makes us as customers pick that trim level to begin with.

If you’re a loyal VW enthusiast and you’ve upgraded your vehicle three times over the years, say – went from a Jetta to a Tiguan and now to an Atlas, chances are the trim level (S, SE or SEL), whichever one you’ve had, is what you’re accustomed to and want to continue to buy. The standard options may not all be the same on the now SE model as it was one or two vehicles ago. The deleted options that are normally standard are now given a credit (dollar amount removed) on the Monroney Label or window sticker.

While you are not charged for this missing part, it is also not on the vehicle like it may have been in years past.

Surprisingly the response to VWoA’s question is not quite 50/50 it’s more like 60/40 in favor of building the vehicle without a particular option if it cannot be obtained. And that’s what they’re doing. I guess one could argue a vehicle is a necessity but not all the options are a necessity. You could also argue – will this make my trade-in worth less when I’m ready to replace this vehicle? I could see points on both sides but at the end of the day, people need vehicles, VWoA needs to produce them, we need to sell them.

Transportation needs do not come to a halt over a heated seat option that may not be available on production day (just an example).

I’ve seen other auto manufacturers take a different approach and install the button and the wiring and deliver the vehicle without the guts of the “widget” itself. They tell the customer, to come back when it becomes available, and they’ll install it. This approach does require a bit of a “retrofit” process but does not come with a credit or discount on the window sticker.

I guess both ways can and do work, it’s just a matter of choice. Cars are rolling off the assembly line and yes many are sold as they arrive or prior to arrival but I assure you, vehicles are still being produced.

This may not be “business as usual” but then again, what in our life is these days? It’s just a matter of adjusting, adapting, and moving forward and for that, Volkswagen of America has done a tremendous job.

As always, thank you for your business. Wishing you and your family, a safe and happy 4th.

John Chauvin, General Manager
Hewlett Volkswagen, L.P.

By Samantha Gomez, Service Drive Manager

Patience is something I learned long ago, and it helps during these trying times as we adjust to the growth in our area. With growth comes challenges and change, including crowding, traffic and longer waits. I have encountered this almost everywhere; at the grocery store, the movies, shopping centers and even dining out. The Austin Chamber of Commerce shows that the population of Williamson County grew by 44.1% between 2010 and 2020. Travis County grew by 26%. That’s a lot of growth in a short period of time!

So, what do we do about area growth? Well, we grow with it!

We are experiencing an increase in the volume of guests we serve at Hewlett Volkswagen and we apologize if you have encountered a delay. To meet these demands, we have made some necessary adjustments to help assist with the scheduling and repair process to best accommodate estimated wait times and to minimize the inconvenience.

Our Courtesy Shuttle services have increased, and we are utilizing Uber shuttle services to help with your transportation needs. Our Service Team offers Pit Stop services to our guests that would like to have their fluids and tire pressures checked prior to their scheduled appointment. We are also offering code read scans and battery health tests prior to scheduled appointments if needed.

Many additional processes have been put into place to help with service requests. Please keep in mind that our current appointment scheduling and wait times are temporary as we are working on changes.

What are our upcoming changes?

With excitement, it is my pleasure to say that Hewlett Volkswagen is currently undergoing a building addition. The state-of-the art building remodel and expansion will provide us with more technician bays allowing for faster services and shorter appointment wait times. It will double the size of the waiting area for our guests’ comfort, expand the sales floor allowing for an enhanced customer experience and the addition of an enlarged service drive will make dropping off and picking up your Volkswagen easier. In addition, our Management Team is working diligently on expanding our staff.

We look forward to being able to share this expansion with you. We are here because of you, we appreciate your patience and as always, thank you for your continued business.

Have a great summer,
Samantha