November 2024 marked some significant car dealership acquisitions across the country. Several groups expanded their operations within familiar territories, such as Darling’s Auto Group, Don Franklin Family of Dealerships, and Braden Auto Group, while others, like Grubb’s, ventured into a new market.

Notable Car Dealership Acquisitions in November 2024

Braden Auto Group Purchases Performance GMC-Cadillac Columbus

Braden Auto Group completed the acquisition of Performance GMC-Cadillac Columbus from Performance Automotive Network. The dealership, located in Carroll, Ohio, has been renamed Braden Cadillac-GMC.

Founded in 2015 by brothers Ray and Todd Braden in Chillicothe, Ohio, the family-owned Braden Automotive Group has grown significantly, now employing 375 people across 11 dealership locations in Ohio and Kentucky. The acquisition of Performance GMC-Cadillac Columbus marks a milestone for the group as it adds its first Cadillac GMC dealership to its portfolio¹.

Buyer:  Braden Auto Group
Seller:  Performance Automotive Network
Transaction Date: 11-04-2024
Dealerships Location: Carroll, Ohio
Dealership Old Names:  Performance GMC-Cadillac Columbus
Dealership New Names: Braden Cadillac-GMC

Gary Haupt sells Knox Ford in Radcliff, Ky. to Don Franklin Family of Dealerships

Don Franklin Family of Dealerships acquired Knox Ford in Radcliff, Kentucky, from Gary Haupt. The dealership has been rebranded as Don Franklin Hardin County Ford².

The Don Franklin Family of Dealerships began in 1968 when Don Franklin, a mechanic from Columbia, Kentucky, and his wife, Barbara, opened a small used car lot, Don’s Used Cars. Through dedication to customer service, the family expanded their business into a thriving dealership group with 19 locations across Kentucky³.

Buyer: Don Franklin Family of Dealerships
Seller: Gary Haupt
Transaction Date: 11-04-2024
Dealerships Location: Radcliff, Ky.
Dealership Old Name: Knox Ford
Dealership New Name: Don Franklin Hardin County Ford

Atlantic Coast Automotive purchases two dealerships in Florida from Qvale Auto Group

Atlantic Coast Automotive acquired two dealerships from Qvale Auto Group in November. The transaction includes Audi Lakeland, and Volkswagen Brandon. 

Atlantic Coast Automotive's acquisition of the Qvale stores further strengthens its rapidly expanding dealership network, which now spans from Florida to New York. Meanwhile, Qvale Auto Group retains its Alfa Romeo and Maserati dealerships⁴.

Buyer:  Atlantic Coast Automotive
Seller:  Qvale Auto Group
Transaction Date: 11-05-2024
Dealerships Locations:

• Lakeland, Fla.
• Brandon, Fla.‍

‍Dealership Old Names:

• Audi Lakeland
• Volkswagen Brandon

Dealership New Names:

• Dealership will continue with existing names.  

Grubbs Family of Dealerships acquires Nissan of Tulsa in Oklahoma

Grubbs Family of Dealerships acquired Nissan of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from Will Reynolds⁹. The dealership has been rebranded as Grubbs Nissan of Tulsa.

The Grubbs Family has been in the automotive business since 1948, starting with Hubert Grubbs selling used cars in front of his Dallas grocery store⁵. Now a fourth-generation family-owned car dealership based in Grapevine, Texas, Grubbs Automotive operates seven dealerships across Texas and Oklahoma, offering a diverse lineup of Acura, Infiniti, Polestar, and Volvo vehicles⁶.

Buyer: Grubbs Family of Dealerships
Seller: Will Reynolds
Transaction Date: 11-05-2024
Dealerships Locations: Tulsa, Ok
Dealership Old Name: Nissan of Tulsa in Oklahoma
Dealership New Name: Grubbs Nissan of Tulsa

Darling’s Auto Group purchases Van Syckle Kia in Bangor, Maine

Darling’s Auto Group acquired Van Syckle Kia in Bangor, Maine, from Peter Van Syckle⁹. The dealership has been renamed Darling’s Kia.

Darling’s, a fourth-generation business operating in Maine since 1903, has expanded its footprint with the acquisition of Van Syckle Kia, the top Kia dealership in Maine⁷. This addition brings Darling’s total to nine dealerships across Augusta, Bangor, Brunswick⁸. 

Buyer: Darling’s Auto Group
Seller: Peter Van Syckle
Transaction Date: 11-12-2024
Dealerships Locations: Bangor, Maine
Dealership Old Name: Van Syckle Kia
Dealership New Name: Darling’s Kia

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Sources 

1. "Steve Corle Brokers Sales of Performance Cadillac to Braden Automotive Group." Https://Timlambgroup.Com/, 4 Nov. 2024, timlambgroup.com/news/braden-automotive-group-cadillac-gmc-dealership. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
2. "Performance Cadillac GMC Marks Braden Automotive Group’S First Cadillac GMC Dealership and 11th Location." Https://Timlambgroup.Com/, 4 Nov. 2024, timlambgroup.com/news/don-franklin-radcliff-ford. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
3. "About Us." Don Franklin Auto, 4 Nov. 2024, www.donfranklinauto.com/about-us/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
4. "The Presidio Group Exclusively Advises Qvale Auto Group on the Sale of 2 Florida Dealerships." Bakersfield, 6 Nov. 2024, www.bakersfield.com/ap/news/the-presidio-group-exclusively-advises-qvale-auto-group-on-the-sale-of-2-florida-dealerships/article_b72e6493-3dc8-554d-82a4-1c265e66fbe5.html. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
5. "Grubbs Family of Dealerships." Linkedin, 5 Dec. 2024, www.linkedin.com/company/grubbs-family-of-dealerships. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
6. "Grubbs Automotive History." Grubbs, 5 Dec. 2024, www.grubbs.com/grubbs-automotive-history. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
7. "Darling’s Acquires Van Syckle Kia in Bangor." Bangor Daily News, 12 Nov. 2024, www.bangordailynews.com/2024/11/12/bangor/bangor-business/bangor-maine-darlings-van-syckle-kia-acquisition/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
8. "Darlings Auto Group Acquires Van Sycle KIA." WABI 5, 12 Nov. 2024, www.wabi.tv/2024/11/12/darlings-auto-group-acquires-van-sycle-kia/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.
9. "Dealership Buy Sell." Auto News, 4 Nov. 2024, www.autonews.com/buy-sell/. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.