Melissa Burden

The number of U.S. dealerships fell slightly in 2021. But average throughput, or new-vehicle sales per franchise, increased, according to Automotive News’ annual dealership census.

Findlay Automotive Group, one of the largest private dealership groups in the U.S., has purchased two dealerships from Asbury Automotive Group Inc. in Washington state.

Del Grande Dealer Group acquired three dealerships in transactions in the third quarter of 2021 and first quarter of 2022.

A growing dealership group, an operator buying his first store and one buying her second purchased dealerships in three states in fourth-quarter and first-quarter transactions involving four dealerships.

<p>Asbury Automotive Group sold two Lexus and five Toyota dealerships to conform with brand rules following two large acquisitions in December.</p>

Serra Automotive Inc., Krause Auto Group and first-time franchised dealership buyers were among purchasers of stores in first-quarter and second-quarter transactions.

Buy-sell experts predict a robust acquisition market in 2022. Automotive News has so far tracked more transactions in this year’s first quarter than in the comparable period a year earlier.

Morgan Automotive bought Jim Browne Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram Tampa Bay and Jim Browne Chevrolet Tampa from dealer Jim Browne.

Wally Darwish in April bought 10 franchised dealerships in New York state from Fuccillo Automotive Group and its president, Billy Fuccillo Jr., including domestic and import stores.

Cannon Motor in May expanded to the Mississippi Gulf Coast with the purchase of three dealerships.

Atlantic Coast Automotive Group has acquired six dealerships in New York state. The acquisition follows the June 2021 purchase of two Kia dealerships in Virginia.

Penske Automotive Group Inc.’s second-quarter net income jumped as the company recorded its most profitable quarter ever, even amid a slight drop in revenue and lower new- and used-vehicle sales.

Six dealerships were sold in five separate transactions in the first, second and third quarters.

Toyota, Kia, Stellantis, Ford and GM dealerships traded hands in multiple transactions across five states.

Honda and Stellantis dealerships traded hands in third- and fourth-quarter transactions that involved Lithia Motors Inc., Hendrick Automotive Group and Group 1 Automotive Inc.

Envision Motors acquires three Mercedes-Benz dealerships from Von Housen Automotive Group.

Lincoln, Cadillac-Buick-GMC, Chevy and Ford dealerships traded hands in Q4 and Q1 transactions in four states.

Learn from dealers and industry leaders at Automotive News Retail Forum: NADA on Jan. 26 in Dallas including keynotes from Group 1 Automotive Inc. CEO Daryl Kenningham and dealers Larry Van Tuyl and Damon Lester.

Stellantis, Ford, GM and Mercedes-Benz dealerships sold in fourth-quarter transactions across Montana, Missouri, New Jersey and Michigan.

Penske Automotive Group sold a Honda dealership in the fourth quarter, while a dealer and three auto retailers added stores to their holdings in separate fourth-quarter acquisitions.