Four dealership groups buy stores in Q3, Q4 deals

One of the country's largest dealership groups purchased a Nissan store, a growing dealership group bought and moved a Hyundai store, one grew its South Florida presence and another expanded in an Omaha, Neb., suburb, all in third- and fourth-quarter transactions.

Here's a look at the deals involving import and domestic brands and dealerships in Virginia, Arizona, Florida and Nebraska.

One transaction involved an auto retailer ranked on Automotive News' top dealership groups list.

Flow Automotive adds Hyundai store
Flow Automotive Cos. on Nov. 6 purchased Jim Price Hyundai in Charlottesville, Va., from Jim Price Auto Group as it continues to expand in the city home to the University of Virginia.

Flow Automotive renamed the dealership Flow Hyundai of Charlottesville and moved it about five miles away to a temporary location that's near a collection of other stores the group owns, Flow Automotive COO Eric Flow said.

The Hyundai dealership purchase marks Flow's 15th franchise in Charlottesville and its second acquisition from Jim Price Auto after buying Price Kia, now Flow Kia, in July. The Winston-Salem, N.C., group in April bought Umansky Automotive Group's Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru and Toyota stores, all in Charlottesville.

Flow Automotive has dealerships selling 26 brands in North Carolina and Virginia and wants to expand, Eric Flow told Automotive News.

"My father, my mother, myself, both my sisters, my wife, all went to University of Virginia," he said. "We think Virginia is a great state to do business. It has some great markets with some great brands and great people. We'd love some further opportunities to grow there."

Kerrigan Advisors, a sell-side firm in Incline Village, Nev., represented the sellers in the transaction.

Courtesy Automotive expands in Arizona

Courtesy Automotive Group of Phoenix expanded its Arizona presence with the October purchase of a Nissan store in nearby Mesa, Ariz.

Courtesy Automotive on Oct. 30 bought East Valley Nissan from Greg Burk. The dealership was renamed Courtesy Nissan of Mesa.

The group has Chevrolet, Chrysler-Dodge-Ram, Jeep, Kia and Volvo dealerships in the Phoenix area and a Chevrolet dealership in San Diego, according to its website.

Courtesy Automotive ranks No. 121 on Automotive News' list of the top 150 dealership groups based in the U.S., retailing 6,627 new vehicles in 2022.

Kerrigan Advisors represented Burk in the transaction.

Warren Henry buys another Key West dealership

Warren Henry Auto Group on Sept. 8 bought Niles Sales and Service, a Chevrolet-GMC-Buick-Cadillac-Nissan dealership in Key West, Fla., from Jack Niles, to expand its presence in the South Florida city.

The store, renamed Keys Auto Center, will stay in its existing location, which is on the same street and 2.5 miles from Warren Henry Auto's other Keys Auto Center dealership that sells Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram, Ford and Toyota vehicles.

"I've been impressed by Jack Niles and his operation for a long time," Larry Zinn, executive general manager of Warren Henry Auto, said in a statement. "It's an honor to merge this respected dealership with KAC and welcome Jack's clients and friends to the Warren Henry Family."

Warren Henry Auto is a private dealership group in Florida. It has had stores honored by Automotive News' Best Dealerships To Work For program.

Woodhouse Auto adds dealership in Nebraska
Woodhouse Auto Family added to its presence in the Omaha suburb of Bellevue, Neb., with its Aug. 1 purchase of Edwards Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram.

The selling dealer was Edwards Auto Group of Council Bluffs, Iowa, co-owner Todd Edwards, confirmed in a phone interview. Edwards Auto now has nine dealerships in Nebraska and Iowa.

The buyer renamed the dealership Woodhouse Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram of Bellevue. It already had Mazda and Nissan dealerships in Bellevue.

Woodhouse Auto also purchased Chevrolet and Cadillac dealerships in Omaha in May from Ron Huber. That group has dealerships in Iowa and Nebraska.