IRVINE, Calif. -

One of Kia’s flagship dealerships has new owners.

Kerrigan Advisors represented and advised Car Pros Automotive Group in its recent sale of Carson Kia — which the firm said is the highest volume Kia dealership in the U.S. since 2016 — to southern California-based Trophy Automotive Dealer Group (TADG).

Opened in 2017, Kerrigan Advisors highlighted that the dealership's new state-of-the-art facility spans 72,000 square feet and is a flagship in OEM’s national distribution network. This transaction marks the fifth dealership that TADG has purchased in southern California in recent years.

“This was a very big decision for our family. While we have no intention of leaving the car business, we felt that selling our large Kia store in Carson made sense, both for our family and for the strategic direction of the group,” said Matthew Phillips, chief executive officer of Car Pros Automotive Group and son of the founder and chairman, Ken Phillips.

In addition to the Carson store, Car Pros Automotive Group comprises six dealerships in northwest Washington and southern California.

The Phillips family has retailed more than 100,000 Kia units in the U.S., more than any other store.

“I opened my first dealership in Des Moines, Wash., in 1984, based on the ideals of honesty and integrity,” founder Ken Phillips said. “As I look back, for the past 35 years, we’ve held true to those standards in everything we’ve done.

“I am proud to say that our recent transaction was handled in the same fashion,” Ken Phillips continued. “Kerrigan Advisors really helped to provide the expertise we needed to transition our Group toward the next phase of Car Pros automotive retail.”

Kerrigan Advisors has represented on the sale of 72 dealerships since July 2015

“I’d like to thank Kerrigan Advisors for smoothly guiding us through this process, with such a high level of professionalism. They truly understand everything a seller goes through and offered sensitivity, a keen understanding of the current (and future) automotive landscape and support every step of the way,” Matthew Phillips said.

Along with turning new metal, the dealership is also among Kia’s top performers for retailing certified pre-owned vehicles.

“Ken and his family are the top Kia retailers in the United States and have been a huge part of that brand’s success on the West Coast — which is also one of the most demanding and cutting-edge automotive markets in the world,” said Ryan Kerrigan, managing director of Kerrigan Advisors. “From the start, in handling this transaction, we focused on that innovative spirit. This is a crown jewel for the KIA brand, and we were proud to be able to offer Carson Kia the representation it deserved.”

Erin Kerrigan, also managing director of Kerrigan Advisors, added, “We were honored to represent the Phillips family on this big transaction.

“This is a landmark dealership in the Kia network, and we have enjoyed working with the Phillips family to develop their game plan for the next leg of their group’s growth,” she went on to say. “We congratulate Trophy Automotive Dealer Group on adding Carson Kia to their portfolio of Southern California dealerships.”

Gus Paras and Bert Rasmussen of Scali Rasmussen served as legal counsel to Car Pros Automotive Group. Aaron Jacoby of Arent Fox served as legal counsel to Trophy Automotive Dealer Group.