Jerry Seiner Auto enters California with Honda store, Pugmire Auto grows Ford footprint in Southeast

Tariffs are now in play. Interest rates are still sticky. And yet, demand for dealerships hasn’t faded. If anything, the market is becoming more selective—not softer.

Private equity-backed groups and public retailers are still active, still buying, and still paying up for the right franchises. Meanwhile—profits remain nearly double pre-COVID levels, and valuations are holding steady, according to Haig Partners. But with new variables throwing uncertainty into the mix, the next wave of consolidation may look very different than the last.

Here are three recent dealership buy/sell deals worth noting:

1. Jerry Seiner Auto Group enters California with its first Honda store

Jerry Seiner Auto Group has made its first move into California with the acquisition of Ocean Honda in San Juan Capistrano. The deal also marks the group’s first Honda franchise. The store, formerly owned by Victory Automotive Group, will now operate as Jerry Seiner Honda, according to deal advisor Pinnacle Mergers & Acquisitions.

For Seiner—a group that’s quietly built a strong footprint across Utah and Nevada—this is a meaningful expansion. It opens up a new market and adds a major OEM to the portfolio, signaling the group’s next chapter of growth.

On the seller side, Victory described the deal as a strategic rebalancing. The group recently acquired two Honda stores in Indiana that it sees as a better fit operationally.

2. Ford consolidation continues in the Southeast.

Pugmire Automotive Group has acquired Pioneer Ford in Bremen, Georgia, now rebranded as Pugmire Ford of Bremen. Additionally, Havana Ford in Havana, Florida, changed hands—capping off a deal over six years in the making. These two recent Ford store sales in the Southeast, facilitated by DSMA, reflect continued dealership movement across the region.

The reason? Operators are responding to a mix of demographic growth, limited supply, and increasing interest from regional buyers—all of which are keeping valuations strong.

3. Golling Automotive Group adds a Detroit-area CDJR store in its latest expansion.

Golling Automotive Group has acquired Ray Laethem Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Detroit, adding a fourth Stellantis store to its portfolio and bringing its total dealership count to eight across Michigan. The store will now operate as Golling Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Grosse Pointe and remain at its location on Mack Avenue.

The seller, Jeff Laethem, will continue to lead Ray Laethem Buick GMC, which remains independently owned. The CDJR store was originally founded by Jeff’s father, Ray Laethem, and the sale marks a new chapter in the family’s dealership history. Performance Brokerage Services represented Laethem in the transaction.

Golling Automotive Group was founded in 1966 by A. William Golling, Jr. and continues to be led by his son, Bill Golling. The group was recently ranked #146 on Automotive News’ 2025 Top 150 Dealership Groups list, based on 2024 retail volume, according to a press release.

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