Group 1 sells Hyundai dealership; Ken Garff Automotive buys Subaru store

Ken Garff Automotive provides Subaru dealership, oldest in the nation

Expanding Ken Garff Automotive Team, a privately owned retailer in Salt Lake City, bolstered its Utah presence with the acquisition this month of a Subaru dealership, a new brand name for the team.

Ken Garff Automotive on June 21 bought Nate Wade Subaru in Salt Lake Metropolis from longtime operator Kirk Schneider. The dealership is preserving the Nate Wade identify, noting that it is a Ken Garff retailer.

Schneider, who experienced just the a person retailer, is staying on as Ken Garff vice president of husband or wife relations, the company claimed in a weblog write-up. He will go on to serve on the boards of the New Motor vehicle Dealers of Utah and the Utah Motor Automobile Franchise Advisory Board, amongst other people. Schneider also signifies Utah on the board of administrators of the Nationwide Car Dealers Association.

“There is no one particular we would instead join than Ken Garff,” Schneider explained in a statement, incorporating his values match that of Ken Garff Automotive.

Schneider, who is also a earlier chairman of the Subaru Countrywide Supplier Advisory Board, had owned the dealership considering that 1995, when he acquired it from his father-in-legislation, Nate Wade. The dealership opened in 1969 and is the oldest Subaru retailer in Subaru of America’s network, the corporation confirmed to Automotive Information. Subaru of The usa was incorporated in 1968.

“We are honored to welcome Nate Wade Subaru into the Ken Garff family,” John Garff, CEO of Ken Garff Enterprises, guardian business of Ken Garff Automotive, mentioned in a assertion. “Kirk Schneider’s vision has designed Nate Wade Subaru an superb retailer that is effectively highly regarded in the local community and aligns beautifully with our brand and dedication to Utah.”

The acquisition follows Ken Garff Automotive’s entrance into Colorado and Wyoming when it bought 5 dealerships in September.

Ken Garff Automotive ranks No. 9 on Automotive News’ record of the best 150 dealership groups primarily based in the U.S., retailing 58,787 new vehicles in 2021.

Joe Ozog of Ozog Consulting Group in Scottsdale, Ariz., represented Schneider in the transaction.