Driving the news: Wyatt Auto Group co-founders Jeff and Asher Braatz, a father-son duo, purchased their third dealership from David Rypma in a deal that closed December 8.

For context: Wyatt Auto purchased the former Don Rypma Chevrolet GMC in Whitehall, Michigan, renaming it Wyatt Chevrolet GMC.

  • It’s the group’s third dealership in West Michigan, where they own dealerships selling Ford and Chevrolet in Manistee, about an hour and change north of Whitehall.

  • This deal bolsters the group’s Chevrolet supply and adds GMC, while expanding its footprint on the state’s west side. 

  • The deal included a body shop on the 9.5-acre property.

What they’re saying:  Asher Braatz told CDG News that he’s focusing on his current stores before thinking of another deal.

  • “I want to dominate the market that I’m in,” Braatz said. “I want to make sure I have the right people doing the right jobs, a good culture and to make sure we have the technology to support [our people] the most efficient way possible first.”

Bottom line: Scale and footprint matter for both large and small dealership groups and there is room for both as the industry continues to consolidate.

You can see this deal announcement and many more throughout the entire year, by visiting the CDG Buy/Sell tracker at CDGbuysell.com powered by:

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