Another busy week of activities among dealer groups unfolded with more acquisitions, store openings and executives in leadership positions.

While Penske Automotive Group made a move overseas, let’s begin this dealer roundup with Foundation Automotive Corp. adding the 30th dealership to its portfolio.

On Thursday, Foundation announced its second acquisition so far this year in Texas by gaining SOUTHFORK Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, which is located on the South Freeway in the Manvel-Pearland area.

“I’m very excited to welcome SOUTHFORK to the Foundation family. It’s always extra special to have another store in our hometown. The Texas market is incredible. We are eager to continue our growth here,” Foundation chief operating officer Chuck Kramer said in a news release, which also mentioned Foundation corporate office is in Houston as the group has 16 dealerships in the Houston and Dallas areas.

SOUTHFORK represents the largest volume from a single store in the current Foundation platform.

“This deal was especially enticing to us because of the leadership of Chris Godwin, Bruce Glascock, and Alfred Flores. They created a culture and a pathway to success that has been unparalleled in our experience,” Foundation Automotive chief executive officer and president Kevin Kutschinski said. “I have personally developed a close friendship and bond with these gentlemen that will last well beyond this deal.”

When it comes to acquisitions, Foundation acknowledged this was a smooth one, as both parties had one main commonality.

“The fabric of our dealership has been our investment in our community for the last 6 years. We are proud of what we have accomplished, and of the support our community has given us,” Godwin, Flores and Glascock said in the news release.

“We believe that Foundation was the perfect match to continue to serve and enhance our employees and the community. We want to thank all of our employees that have worked together to form the culture of the great SOUTHFORK Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram team. We are truly blessed with the relationships we’ve built, and we wish them luck in the future,” Godwin, Flores and Glascock continued.

Foundation said Henry Pimentel has been at SOUTHFORK CDJR for the last four years, most recently as general manager, and will take over as managing partner of the dealership.

“I am extremely excited for the new transition and opportunity. I’m thankful to be able to continue to grow with our staff here at SOUTHFORK CDJR, and carry on with the community involvement we are so passionate about,” Pimentel said.

Penske expands in UK

On Friday, Penske announced that Sytner Group, its U.K. subsidiary, has acquired three BMW MINI dealerships and a collision center in the United Kingdom.

Penske highlighted the acquired dealerships are located in South East England, north of London, complementing the existing presence of 32 BMW MINI franchises operated by the company in the U.K. market.

According to a news release, this acquisition is expected generate $250 million in annualized revenues for Penske and was funded using existing capacity under the company’s U.K.-based credit agreement.

Year-to-date 2022, Penske said it has added approximately $550 million in annualized revenue through acquisitions and open points.

“I am pleased to announce that we have expanded our relationship with the BMW and MINI brands in the U.K.,” Sytner Group CEO Darren Edwards said. “The acquisition of these dealerships enhances our position as the largest retail partner for the BMW and MINI brands in the U.K. and provides an opportunity for our business to build additional scale in this important market.  We welcome these new businesses to our team.”  

Leith opens new Honda rooftop in NC

Moore County in North Carolina includes the towns of Aberdeen, Southern Pines and Pinehurst; with the latter community being the home of the famous golf course that has hosted the U.S. Open multiple times.

Leith Automotive Group now has a new Honda operation as sparkling as those Pinehurst fairways with the opening of a new, expanded facility adjacent to the original Leith Honda Aberdeen location on U.S. 15-501.

“The growth in Aberdeen is so great that we just outgrew our building. It was time.” Leith Honda Aberdeen general manager Scott Weaver said in a news release.

Leith highlighted the new building includes an expanded showroom giving customers a more relaxed environment to shop and explore the showcased inventory.  Also, the waiting area has expanded for customers’ comfort and includes business workstations for those who need to work while they wait.

According to the news release, Weaver and service manager Mark Posey are most excited about their new state-of-the-art service department. The new facility holds twice as many service bays as the former building, complete with new tire balancers, express bay lifts and individual fluid and air filling stations.

“When we have to walk to the parts counter to get oil and washer fluid for our vehicles, it adds to the customer’s wait time,” Posey said. “Now we will have oil and washer fluid, water, light, and electrical reels right at our fingertips.”

While Leith Honda Aberdeen might have a new building, Posey said a commitment to take the best care of their customers remains in place.

“We’ve got people that we have retained since I’ve been here. I have worked on their mother’s and grandmother’s cars.”

Leith is one of the largest automotive groups in North Carolina with 39 franchise locations throughout the state.

Stuckey names new HR director

Our dealer group roundup wraps up in Pennsylvania.

Stuckey Automotive, which caters to customers in Blair and Centre counties in the central part of the Keystone State, has named Samantha Longenecker as director of human resources. 

In her new role, Longenecker will develop, administer, and execute policies as it pertains to recruitment, management and employee relations. Stuckey Automotive employs 300 full-time professionals among its five dealerships, collision centers and corporate headquarters.

“When we created this position, we allowed ourselves to take all the time necessary to find just the right person and I’m so glad we did.  The moment we first met Samantha, we knew she was the one we could trust with our most valuable asset — our team,” Stuckey Automotive president Matt Stuckey said in a news release.

 “We now have a seasoned professional to serve as an employee advocate.  We’ll look to her expertise to create seamless onboarding and training processes, enhance employee relations, and foster new recruiting methods. To have Samantha on board is a huge win for Stuckey Automotive,” Stuckey added.    

Prior to joining Stuckey Automotive, Longenecker enjoyed successful tenure as director of human resources at Peerstar LLC in Altoona, Pa.  Before her time at Peerstar, she held human resources positions at Morrison’s Cove First Federal Credit Union, Mattern House and Roaring Spring Paper Products.

“Matt and his team should be commended for building a culture that allows everyone to prosper,” Longenecker said. “When a business invests in the well-being and happiness of an employee as much as Stuckey Automotive, there is a seismic lift in productivity and employee loyalty. Stuckey Automotive got it right. There is an air of enthusiasm and a constant stream of laughter that adds to making every day a great day. I am especially fortunate and excited to be part of it all.”