Jackie Charniga

General Motors last year exercised its right of first refusal in a buy-sell deal for two Nebraska stores. The automaker ultimately sued the seller and original buyer before a judge dismissed the case. The stores changed hands in May.

The right of first refusal in dealership buy-sells has helped minority dealers acquire stores, some their first, and is a tool many automakers say can help them manage their franchises. But others say an increased use of the tool can hurt factory-dealer relations, spook some would-be bidders and lead to lower dealership prices.

A pair of Canadian auto retailers, as well as two large Midwest dealership groups, expanded with deals across Michigan, Ohio, Texas and New York.

Nathaniel Dillard is the youngest ASE-certified world-class technician, passing all 22 tests by age 22. He now works at the Mercedes-Benz plant for a European automotive engineering consulting company.

Zeigler Auto Group of Kalamazoo, Mich., acquired Elhart Automotive in Holland, Mich., to expand its Michigan and Midwest presence.

A bill that aimed to block automakers' use of right of first refusal on dealership buy-sell deals in West Virginia failed to move in the House of Delegates before the state's legislative session ended last month.

Two dealerships trading hands involved former Major League Baseball players Dorian Boyland and Brian Dorsett, and a group bought its second Long Island store, all in the first quarter, while another dealer purchased his second store in fourth-quarter 2022.

Dealerships selling Ford, Chevy, Hyundai, Kia and Mazda brands sold in separate fourth-quarter transactions. The stores were in Ohio, Texas and New York.

Stellantis, Ford, GM and Mercedes-Benz dealerships sold in fourth-quarter transactions across Montana, Missouri, New Jersey and Michigan.

Serra Automotive Inc., Krause Auto Group and first-time franchised dealership buyers were among purchasers of stores in first-quarter and second-quarter transactions.

Five domestic-brand dealerships were sold in the fourth quarter of 2021 and first and second quarters of 2022 in single-store transactions in three states.

Three dealerships — Ford, Chevrolet and Chevrolet-Buick rooftops — were sold in first-quarter transactions. The dealerships involved in separate deals are in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Wisconsin.

Four dealerships, including an exclusive Bentley dealership, changed hands in single-store transactions in the fourth quarter of 2021 and first quarter of 2022.

Stores changed hands in Florida, Oregon and Massachusetts.

A New York dealership settled with a former employee who filed a lawsuit claiming store management improperly handled her her sexual harassment complaints.