Dealer group roundup: Latest moves at Asbury, Holman & Lithia
Three large dealer groups are having a busy finish to June, not just related to meeting monthly and quarterly sales and revenue objectives.
Lithia & Driveway acquired another franchised dealership, a top Asbury Automotive Group resigned and Holman Automotive opened a luxury brand rooftop.
Beginning with Lithia, the publicly traded group announced its third store acquisition this month. Now in its portfolio is Michael’s Toyota in Bellevue, Wash., which is expected to generate $235 million in annualized revenues.
According to a news release, this Toyota location has historically been the largest volume dealer in the region and received numerous industry awards
“This exceptional Toyota store doubles our presence and offerings in the largest automotive retail market in our Northwest region,” Lithia president and chief executive officer Bryan DeBoer said in the news release.
“We welcome Erick Paulson and his high performing team as they continue to serve and create loyal, satisfied customers in the greater Seattle area,” DeBoer continued.
The company highlighted this location brings Lithia’s total expected annualized revenue acquired during the first full year of its five-year plan to $7.8 billion, nearly doubling the annual target for network development.
Lithia added this acquisition was financed using existing on-balance sheet capacity.
Asbury CFO resigns
Meanwhile, news from another publicly traded dealer group was connected with its leadership.
On Monday afternoon, Asbury announced that Patrick Guido provided notice of his decision to resign from the position of senior vice president and chief financial officer of the company for personal reasons.
According to a news release, Guido’s resignation was effective Thursday.
“We thank PJ Guido for his service to Asbury and leading the finance team,” Asbury’s president and chief executive officer David Hult said in the news release.
And Guido added, “I would like to thank David and the board for the opportunity to have served as CFO and wish the company and my former colleagues well in the future.”
Asbury also announced that William Stax, vice president, corporate controller and chief accounting officer of the company, was appointed as interim principal financial officer effective Friday while the company conducts a search for a new CFO.
Holman Automotive opens Jaguar and Land Rover store
On Monday, Holman Automotive, one of the largest privately owned dealership groups in the United States, announced the opening of an all-new, state-of-the-art facility that will be home to Jaguar San Diego and Land Rover San Diego.
Located at 9320 Miramar Road in San Diego, Holman highlighted the dealership features world-class showrooms and an extensive service center “that will deliver an extraordinary experience to customers throughout the region.”
The entirely new 214,000-square-foot facility includes five floors of new and pre-owned vehicles from Jaguar and Land Rover as well as an innovative service center with an indoor service drive, two customer lounges, and ample parking.
Holman noted the dealership features Jaguar Land Rover’s sophisticated ARCH design stylings, highlighted by simple elegance, contemporary colors, and rich wood tones.
“The new Jaguar Land Rover dealership in San Diego is absolutely stunning and is an impressive showcase for these two iconic luxury brands,” Holman Automotive chief executive officer Brian Bates said.
“Customers can expect the same personalized attention and expertise that Holman is known for, in a spectacular retail environment that embodies the DNA of these distinguished vehicles,” Bates added about the dealership that is one of 16 locations in the country to earn the prestigious 2019/2020 Pinnacle Retailer Excellence Award.