LaFontaine Automotive buys 4 dealerships, including 3 from Lithia Motors

LaFontaine Automotive Group purchased four metro Detroit dealerships in Michigan in less than six months, including three from Lithia Motors Inc., and another from dealer Mike Savoie.

All three transactions involve relocations within the Mitten state and in two cases involved only the assets, LaFontaine spokesperson Max Muncey told Automotive News.

Lithia, which entered the north Florida market in September, on Sept. 12 sold Suburban Infiniti of Troy and Nissan of Troy to LaFontaine. Lithia on the same day also sold Suburban Volkwagen of Troy in Michigan to Rachel Savoie, according to a Lithia spokesperson. Rachel Savoie is Mike Savoie's youngest daughter.

The Infiniti, Nissan and Volkswagen dealerships were part of Lithia's megadeal when it purchased the Suburban Collection and 34 of its dealerships in April 2021.

LaFontaine purchased the Infiniti dealership building, plus inventory and parts. The Nissan franchise, in a different building nearby that Lithia kept, then moved to the Infiniti building, creating a dual showroom under a new name: LaFontaine Infiniti-Nissan Troy. Some staff members from each dealership also moved to LaFontaine.
The dealerships were less than 500 yards apart, Muncey said, and it took about a day and a half for he and a team of about eight to move all the cars.

"I walked 6.7 miles in one day just between those two dealerships," Muncey said, citing smart device data.

LaFontaine in January purchased an Infiniti store from Lithia, in the Detroit suburb of Novi.

The group stayed busy following the Lithia purchases. LaFontaine on Sept. 16 purchased the assets of Acura of Troy, owned by Mike Savoie.

The Volkswagen dealership that Rachel Savoie bought and renamed Mike Savoie Volkswagen of Troy will operate out of the building formerly owned by Acura of Troy. It will undergo a major renovation in the next year to update the building to brand standards, Rachel Savoie said.

"I'm thrilled to continue my family's legacy by opening another Mike Savoie-branded dealership," Rachel Savoie wrote in an email. "I aim to honor my hardworking grandfather and father, making them proud by delivering exceptional customer service and building an incredible team to carry our mission forward."

The Acura dealership relocated to a nearby suburb of Commerce Township, now operating as LaFontaine Acura Commerce.

LaFontaine CEO Ryan LaFontaine said via email that the acquisitions strengthen the group's Michigan footprint.

"We have deep roots in the communities we serve, and these expansions only deepen our dedication to providing personalized care and exceptional service for generations to come," LaFontaine wrote.

LaFontaine on April 1also purchased the assets of Aston Martin Troy from Lithia. That store also was part of the Suburban Collection acquisition.

LaFontaine temporarily moved sales, service and parts of the renamed Aston Martin Detroit to a Farmington Hills, Mich., facility. The group expects to open a permanent spot in Troy, Mich., where the company is renovating a building it owns, in the next 12 to 18 months.

Muncey said the acquisitions were strategic.

"We have over 110 buildings across the state of Michigan as we continue to plan and prepare for future growth," he said. "We filled gaps in our brand offerings with these acquisitions."

Lithia, of Medford, Ore., ranks No. 1 on Automotive News' list of the top 150 dealership groups in the U.S., retailing 314,116 new vehicles in 2023. LaFontaine, of Highland, Mich., ranks No. 30 on the list, retailing 25,355 new vehicles last year.