Our Business
The History of Autohaus Merkle
Autohaus Merkle, Inc. opened for business at its current location in 1967. Back then, Autohaus was only one bay and serviced only air-cooled Volkswagens. As time went by and the shop grew, the original 24'x24' garage was torn down and a 2-bay shop was built. Since then, Autohaus has gone through two further expansions. First into a 5-bay shop with a new office. Then to the 9-bay service facility we operate today. Gradually becoming an "all foreign" service facility. Today, we specialize in only German vehicles such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Mini Cooper, Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen vehicles. We have recently started servicing late-model Bentley and Lamborghini vehicles as well.
Scott is the fearless leader of the operation-the guy who went from turning wrenches in the back to running the whole show up front. He started at the shop as a technician and, in true "started from the bottom now we're here" fashion, ended up buying the place. Some say it was destiny. Others say he just really wanted his own parking spot.
Despite being the boss, Scott hasn't hung up the tools completely. You'll still catch him sneaking into the shop, turning a wrench or two, and pretending it's "just to help out"— but we all know it's because he misses the grease.
When he's not buried in spreadsheets or running the business like a well-oiled machine, Scott is tearing it up at the track in his heavily modified TT RS (emphasis on heavily).
It's fast, it's loud, and it's probably the reason he smiles in meetings. Off the track, he enjoys golfing—because every race car driver needs a sport where going slow is actually encouraged-and spending time with his family, who somehow still put up with all the car talk.
Scott's the kind of owner who leads with passion, drives like he stole it, and still thinks
"just one more mod" is a perfectly reasonable life philosophy.
The Family
Scott - Owner / Occasional Wrench-Turner / Full-Time Boss Man
Carl - Founder
Carl grew up in a small town near Heilbron, Germany in an automotive repair family. His father owned an Audi dealership in 1927 that became one of the first Volkswagen dealerships in 1949. Carl studied as a toolmaker and then as a mechanic before coming to the U.S. in 1960. After serving two years in the U.S. military and working as a mechanic for a few more years, Carl opened Autohaus in 1967. After 45 years of serving the needs of German car owners in Indianapolis, Carl retired and sold Autohaus to Scott, who maintains the same high quality service you have grown accustomed to.
Manfred - Former Service Writer/ Service Manager/mentor
Manfred is originally from small town near Stuttgart, Germany where he learned his trade as a tool maker. Shortly after, he began working in the new car design and prototype department at Audi. He stayed there for 15 years, becoming a group leader. Manfred came to the U.S. in 1983 and has been with Autohaus ever since. He does everything from answering the phones and selling estimates, to lending his help whenever and wherever his specialized skills are needed. With his 45 years of automotive experience, Manfred is an irreplaceable member of the family. Manfred has since retired, and is enjoying family time. He still comes by to visit us on occasion.
Tyler – Service Manager
Tyler is our Service Manager and resident car whisperer. Before taking the wheel of the service department, he was a Master Certified Technician and lead diagnostician—which basically means if your car had a problem, he could find it, fix it, and still have time to tell you why it happened... with diagrams.
These days, he keeps the shop running like a well-tuned V8, all while juggling schedules, solving mysteries, and answering questions that usually start with “So my cousin’s car is making this weird noise…”
When he’s not keeping the shop in line, Tyler’s geeking out over performance vehicle engineering—because who doesn’t love spending their free time thinking about horsepower and boost pressure? He also soaks up family time whenever he can... and then, once the house is quiet, it’s game on. Call of Duty noobs beware: Tyler’s coming in hot, and he’s not here to make friends.
Trask – Shop Foreman
Trask is the Shop Foreman, which is a fancy way of saying he’s the guy who keeps the chaos in the shop from turning into actual chaos. With a toolbox that could probably fix the International Space Station and a glare that can silence a misfiring engine, Trask runs a tight ship—and somehow makes it look easy.
When he’s not keeping everything (and everyone) in line, Trask is still in full gear as a Master Certified Technician. That’s right—this man eats, sleeps, and breathes horsepower. If it’s broken, he can fix it. If it’s not broken… he’ll probably still take it apart just to make it faster.
Off the clock, Trask transforms into Motorcycle Dad™, spending his free time riding, wrenching, and occasionally pretending he’s in a biker movie montage. He also enjoys quality time with his family, though don’t be surprised if he sneaks out to “check something in the garage” and disappears for three hours.
Marcos – Service Technician
Marcos is one of our skilled Service Technicians and quite possibly part machine himself—though we haven’t confirmed that with HR yet. He’s got a steady hand with a ratchet, an eye for detail, and the kind of cool-under-pressure vibe you’d expect from someone who ends his day with a glass of whiskey like a retired action hero.
When he’s not turning wrenches like a champ, Marcos is all about chill mode. You’ll either find him kicking back with friends and family—probably nodding like he’s solving the mysteries of the universe—or deep in the garage, building car audio systems that slap harder than your grandma’s cooking.
If it’s too quiet, he’ll fix that real quick. And if it’s after hours? He’s probably in his element: listening to music, tuning subs, and making sure the bass drops hard enough to rattle your soul (and maybe a few windows)
Jorge – Service Technician
Meet Jorge—our resident young gun and wrench-wielding wizard. Don’t let the baby face fool you; this guy knows his way around an engine like your grandma knows her way around a casserole. He may be the youngest in the shop, but he works like he’s been turning wrenches since birth (we're still checking his birth certificate for grease stains).
Jorge brings the energy, the skills, and just the right amount of “watch this” to every job he takes on. Whether it’s tightening bolts or schooling the veterans on the latest tech, he’s always two steps ahead and probably doing it faster than you thought possible.
When he’s not in the shop, Jorge is soaking up the outdoors, enjoying time with his family, or tracking down the perfect meal like a Michelin-starred bloodhound. Work hard, eat well, repeat—that’s the Jorge way.
Brad – Service Advisor
Meet Brad, our Service Advisor with an origin story that sounds like the plot of a comedy film. Brad used to be just another customer—until one day, he sat down in the waiting area, got too comfy, and decided this was his new office. We’re still not entirely sure if he’s ever actually clocked in. Now he’s the guy behind the desk, juggling service requests and still acting like he’s just there to pick up his car… even though we know he’s never leaving.
When he’s not advising on your car, Brad is out there breaking the sound barrier in his S6, because why drive like a law-abiding citizen when you can leave the law behind? When he’s not channeling his inner race car driver, you’ll find him fishing (and out-fishing you, no question), or spending hours detailing his car to the point where he can spot a speck of dirt from a mile away and will proceed to clean it until you question if that car’s even real.
Brad is the guy who works hard, plays hard, and has a love affair with his car that would make even the most devoted car enthusiast jealous. If there’s dirt, he’ll find it—and if it’s on his car, he’ll clean it until you need sunglasses just to look at it.
The Security
Everybody needs some peace of mind that their automobile will be safe when it's out of their hands. This sense of calm is provided by the two German Shepherds (of course!) that guard our property after hours. And these two LOVE their job!
