Meet Our CEO, Robert Bassam

Robert Bassam built Eastern Automotive Group from the ground up, and embodies the American Dream. He moved to the area from Miami in the mid-80s. Surprisingly, the idea for Easterns began when Bassam worked as a server at a Mexican restaurant. He purchased two cars from the Salvation Army for $50 each, then, made a profit by selling them for $300. 

After that, Bassam was motivated to change the face of the automotive industry. In 1988, Easterns was officially established as a car wholesaling business. Many potential car-buyers visited his wholesale storage lot after being turned down by dealerships, and Bassam saw an opportunity to give people with poor or no credit the opportunity to buy a vehicle. This gave him the inspiration for Easterns Motors—the first commercial dealership location that opened with the slogan “Your job is your credit,” in Arlington, Virginia.

Due to the high demand for reliable pre-owned vehicles, the dealership was wildly successful, with over 100 deals per month. In 2003 Capital One Auto Finance signed on as a lender and went on to become Easterns’ top finance source. Other lenders like Wells Fargo, TD Bank, Ally, and AmeriCredit are all now a part of the list of over 30 lenders—a rare achievement for a non-franchise car dealership. As a sign of his success with some of the most influential companies in the automotive industry, Bassam is a part of the national dealer advisory board for Capital One Auto Finance, Cox Automotive, and Kar Auction Services. Easterns Automotive Group was most recently named the MidAtlantic Independent Automotive Dealers Association (IADA) 2019 Maryland Quality Dealer of the Year!

As the automotive industry evolves, Eastern Automotive Group continues to serve the Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. communities by offering friendly customer service, diverse vehicle selection, and competitive pricing. Having a centralized reconditioning facility, corporate headquarters, and customer satisfaction team allows Easterns to deliver available vehicles to any of their seven locations. 

Thank you for joining the Easterns Automotive Group family. Remember, we’re here to help. Contact us today if a family member, coworker, or friend is in need of a quality pre-owned vehicle. We would be happy to assist them.