Jack Walsworth

"What we decided to do is to stop looking at resumes and stop looking for car people," says dealership General Manager Kevin Grant.

Gee Automotive Cos. made its first franchised dealership acquisition since late 2020 with the purchase of three Oregon dealerships this week.

Sonic Automotive purchased its first franchised dealership in New York state. The retailer also exited a Mini franchise in California late last year.

These four single-store transactions closed in the fourth quarter.

Victory Automotive Group and a dealer who just opened GM's first BrightDrop store were among buyers in transactions in November and December.

The Michigan-based dealership group that was acquired by Lithia last year, has been running an advertising campaign that's all about employee recruitment.

Three dealerships were sold in transactions late last year in Michigan, Florida and California.

Swickard Auto Group, Key Auto Group and Gerald Auto Group each bought dealerships in December transactions, while a former dealership general manager bought his first store this month.

Jeff Wyler Automotive added a dealership in Kentucky, while Phil Long Dealerships expanded in Colorado.

Three dealership groups have expanded in Mississippi, South Carolina and Pennsylvania with acquisitions that closed this month.

Dealership buy-sell experts expect 2021 to be a record year for completed transactions, but also anticipate 2022's deal pace will remain strong.

Group 1 Automotive sold a luxury dealership during the fourth quarter to Bayway Auto Group, while West Herr Automotive and two other dealership groups purchased stores.

Ricart Automotive Group, led by 2020 National Automobile Dealers Association Chairman Rhett Ricart, has purchased two dealerships in Columbus, Ohio.

Ed Morse Automotive Group last week bought four dealerships in two separate transactions.

Sonic Automotive's completed medagdeal of RFJ Auto Partners Holdings closed amid a flurry of buy-sell transactions as the year comes to an end.