Sven Osusky immigrated to the United States in 1989, shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall, to escape the communist rule in Slovakia. Prior to immigrating, he started his career in automotive repair and brought that expertise with him. With over 30 years of experience, Sven’s passion for the automotive industry led to opening his first European repair shop in Spokane, WA.

13 years after opening the Spokane location, Sven and his wife Lani Jo knew it was time to make a change once again. That was when they reached out to Elevate Rapid City for assistance in relocating their business.

“The market and business environment in Washington is very different from South Dakota,” Sven said. “Kallie and the Elevate Rapid City team helped us tremendously with providing guidance and resources to navigate the changes we would face as business owners in a new state.  They specifically helped us understand the market, workforce pool, and the challenges we may face, providing valuable information to help us in setting realistic expectations and goals.”

SoDak AutoHaus specializes in European automotive repair along with domestic and Asian vehicles. Brands include Audi, BMW, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volkswagen & Volvo.  Sven added, “We expected the European automotive repair market to be different than it is in Washington but weren't quite sure how to determine the exact differences, challenges and how to address them. [Elevate] walked along side of us, providing us with automotive repair market statistics, labor market information and encouragement.”

Elevate business development manager Kallie Ruland assisted the company with their relocation. Kallie shared, “I’m thrilled to see SoDak AutoHaus making the move to Rapid City! The addition of specialized businesses like this not only strengthens our local economy but also enhances the overall quality of life for residents and visitors alike. Their expertise and unique offerings contribute to the growing diversity of services in our community.”

The new specialty repair shop opens March 17 at 1330 Deadwood Ave, the previous location of Inland Truck Parts & Service. For more information visit www.sodakautohaus.com.

About Elevate Rapid City

Elevate Rapid City is a public-private partnership organization leading economic development and small business efforts in the Black Hills region. Its mission is to elevate the Rapid City economy for all by fostering growth, innovation, and collaboration. Visit elevaterapidcity.com to learn more.