VIDEO: Congresswoman Lee Meets with Local Auto Shop Affected by Increasing Gas Prices

May 1, 2026 Press Release Image Watch and Download Video LAS VEGAS, NV – Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) met with Victor Botnari, owner of Universal Motorcars, a local auto repairs and body shop impacted by high gas prices. Botnari has seen a 10% decrease in business due to service appointment cancellations—because gas prices are high, Nevadans are choosing to save money over servicing their cars. HIGHLIGHTS: How Botnari became interested in cars Lee: We're going to have a little conversation of increasing prices, how it's impacting your line of business. But first, tell me about how’d you get into the business. I know you have a trucking business as well. Just give us a backstory on how you got started and how you ended up here. Botnari: Yeah. Hello, and thank you for having me. So, I moved in Vegas in 2011, and I was a fan of cars since I was a little kid. I started with my dad. My dad is a doctor. But, when we're kids, we're like, in Europe. Doctors, they don't make much money. So he had to fix the car on his own. Yeah. And since I was four years old I was helping him handling tools and stuff. The impact of high gas prices on Botnari’s customers at Universal Motorcars Lee: And then tell me what you're feeling now that you know. I mean, right now, I think, the average price here in Las Vegas is $5 a gallon. So tell us how that's impacting your business. Botnari: So it's definitely impacting because lately we have customers who are coming in for like a little inspection and they say, “Oh, I cannot afford to fix it. Is my car going to last for a little more? Because I have to put more gas to drive to work and back.” A lot of people, what I heard, we try to talk to customers and see how they feel, and they do have to cancel their trips, especially their weekend trips, occasions. How high gas prices have affected Botnari’s trucking company Lee: And what's it doing to your bottom line as a trucking company? Botnari: Trucking company has been really affected. The one thing is the fuel price increases so high and the loads are at the same price. So we were transporting goods for like let's say one route was $3,700 two months ago. Now is the same route, same price. But we pay like almost double in fuel. Almost double in fuel. Lee: You're not increasing your prices for your customers. But you're having to pay more in terms of gas price. The message Botnari has for Members of Congress and leaders in Washington Lee: So what do you want to say to members of Congress or people in Washington? What's the message you'd like to deliver to them? Botnari: If it's possible somehow to drop fuel prices? If that's possible that will help a lot. Yeah. Because the people… medium level and low-income level, they're suffering more. And those people are the people that they need repairs on their cars. ### Issues : Economy, Jobs, & Small Businesses