Toyota, Ford, Hyundai Car Dealerships Sell in Latest M&A Deals: What the $700M Shuffle Means for Buyers | Car Dealership M&A, Dealer Network Mergers | CarStream247
You walk into your local dealership to buy a new truck, and suddenly the signs have changed—new owner, new name, but the same faces behind the counter.
That scene is playing out across the country right now. Behind the scenes, a massive game of musical chairs is happening in the automotive retail world. Toyota, Ford, and Hyundai dealerships are changing hands in deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Here’s what you need to know before you sign on the dotted line for your next car.
TL;DR
Big dealership groups are buying and selling Toyota, Ford, and Hyundai stores at a record pace. The biggest moves include a $700 million sale of 13 dealerships in Louisiana and Penske Automotive’s purchase of Longo Toyota—the largest Toyota dealership in America—for a cool $1.5 billion in annual revenue. Industry experts predict 2026 will be a “banner year” for dealership mergers and acquisitions. For everyday drivers, this means potential changes in service quality, pricing, and where you take your car for repairs.
Why Are All These Dealerships Changing Hands Right Now?
The short answer: money.
Successful family-owned dealerships are cashing out while prices are high. According to John Murphy of Haig Partners, there are more buyers than sellers in the market right now, which drives up prices. Sellers are looking at the market and thinking, “If I’m going to sell, now’s the time.”
There’s another reason too. The NADA Data Mid-Year 2025 report shows the retail automotive industry is consolidating. Small, single-store owners are becoming acquisition targets for regional giants. The share of owners with just one to five stores dropped from 91.4% to 90.7% in just one year. That doesn’t sound like much, but in an industry with roughly 18,000 dealerships, that’s hundreds of stores changing hands.
Here’s what’s interesting: The uncertainty around electric vehicle mandates and tariffs actually slowed deals in early 2025. But once things settled down, the floodgates opened.
The Biggest Deals: Who Bought What
Let me break down the major moves you should know about.
The $700 Million Louisiana Shuffle
All Star Automotive Group, owned by Matt MacKay, agreed to sell its entire empire to Hudson Automotive for $700 million. This wasn’t just a few stores. We’re talking 13 dealerships representing 14 brands including Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota. Plus a collision center, a parts warehouse, and a used car superstore. Oh, and almost $200 million worth of real estate.
If the deal goes through (automakers still need to approve it), this becomes the largest dealer group sale in Louisiana history.
Penske Snags the Crown Jewel
Penske Automotive Group made a power move in November 2025, acquiring Longo Toyota in El Monte, California. Why is this a big deal? Longo Toyota has been the number one volume Toyota dealer in the United States for 58 consecutive years. That’s not a typo. Fifty-eight years.
The deal also included Longo Lexus in El Monte, Lexus of Stevens Creek in San Jose, and Longo Toyota of Prosper in Texas (a growing Dallas suburb). Combined, these dealerships retailed over 28,000 new and used vehicles in 2024 and are expected to add $1.5 billion in estimated annualized revenue to Penske’s portfolio.
But here’s where it gets clever. Penske isn’t just buying. They’re also selling. Roger Penske admitted in an April 2026 earnings call that his company sold two Lexus stores—one in Rhode Island and one in Wisconsin—to make room for these acquisitions. It’s called “portfolio pruning,” and every major auto retailer is doing it.
Ford Stores Moving Around
Ford dealerships are also on the move, both in the US and internationally.
In the UK, TrustFord acquired a Ford dealership from Islington Motor Group in Trowbridge, securing the Ford franchise for new cars, commercial vehicles, and servicing across the Trowbridge and Westbury areas. The site officially rebranded as TrustFord in July 2025, and existing staff stayed on.
Down in New Zealand, Ingham Motor Group took over Central Motor Group’s Ford dealerships in Rotorua and Taupō starting December 2025. Ford New Zealand’s managing director called Ingham a “100% Kiwi-owned and family-operated business with over four decades of experience.”
Hyundai Expands in the UK and Beyond
Hyundai dealerships are hot property right now.
Richmond Motor Group acquired Everton Garage Hyundai in Lymington, UK, expanding the group’s Hyundai presence across the south coast. The deal, which took effect September 2025, adds to Richmond’s existing Hyundai sites in Portsmouth, Bognor Regis, Southampton, and Guildford.
The move reflects what Richmond’s managing director Michael Nobes called the “ongoing consolidation of the UK automotive retail sector”—fancy talk for “big fish eating little fish.”
Meanwhile, in Panama, Japanese conglomerate Sojitz Corporation acquired Petroautos, S.A., the exclusive Hyundai distributor in Panama. Petroautos operates nine dealerships nationwide and has over 30 years of experience in the market.
What This Means for You (The Person Actually Buying a Car)
You’re probably thinking: “That’s nice for the billionaires, but does this affect my monthly payment?”
Yes. Here’s how.
The Good: Potentially Better Service
When a big group like Penske or Hudson takes over a dealership, they bring standardized processes. TrustFord, for example, introduced its “TrustFord NOW” service at the acquired Trowbridge location, allowing customers to drive away selected vehicles the same day. They also offer “Bring It To Me NOW” where they deliver used vehicles from across their network to your nearest store.
Big groups have deeper pockets for training, facility upgrades, and technology. The dealership you hated visiting might actually become… pleasant?
The Tricky Part: Less Negotiation Room
Consolidation means fewer independent owners. Independent owners can be flexible on price because they’re making decisions for themselves. Corporate-owned dealerships have guidelines, quotas, and less authority to “make a deal.”
Here’s a reality check from an industry insider.
James “JT” Taylor, a strategic advisor at National Business Brokers, put it bluntly: “A lot of the five rooftops are going to be 15 in the next eight years.” The industry is consolidating, and that trend isn’t reversing.
The Unknown: Will Your Warranty Still Be Honored?
This is the question nobody asks until it’s too late.
When a dealership changes ownership, your factory warranty is still valid. That’s tied to the brand (Toyota, Ford, Hyundai), not the dealership owner. However, if you had a “lifetime powertrain warranty” from the previous owner—the kind small dealerships offer to sweeten the deal—that might disappear when the sign changes.
Always ask: “Is my extended warranty backed by the manufacturer or the previous dealership?”
How This Compares to Past Trends
| Dealership Group | What They Bought | What They Paid / Value | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson Automotive | 13 dealerships (Ford, Hyundai, Toyota, Kia) in Louisiana | $700 million plus $200M real estate | Largest dealer group sale in Louisiana history |
| Penske Automotive | Longo Toyota + 3 Lexus stores (CA & TX) | $1.5 billion estimated annual revenue | #1 Toyota dealer in US for 58 years |
| TrustFord | Ford dealership in Trowbridge, UK | Undisclosed | Added same-day “NOW” service |
| Sojitz Corporation | Petroautos (9 Hyundai dealerships in Panama) | Undisclosed | Japanese conglomerate expands Hyundai presence |
| Richmond Motor Group | Everton Garage Hyundai (UK) | Undisclosed | Reflects UK automotive consolidation trend |
The Experts’ Take: What’s Coming in 2026 and Beyond
I talked to the numbers (well, read the reports) so you don’t have to.
2026 is shaping up to be a “banner year” for dealership M&A, according to multiple buy-sell professionals. Joe Ozog of Ozog Consulting Group said on a Wards Auto call: “I think 2026 will be my best year ever, actually. I have six deals scheduled to close in January and February.”
Why the optimism? The “bid-ask gap” is narrowing. Sellers were asking too much; buyers were offering too little. Now they’re meeting in the middle.
But there’s one “fly in the ointment,” as John Murphy calls it.
The mid-year joint review of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) could disrupt the market. Tariffs and trade policy changes have a way of spooking both buyers and sellers.
Luxury vs. Volume Brands
Here’s where opinions split.
John Murphy thinks volume-brand franchises (Toyota, Ford, Hyundai, Honda) have the most upside. There are simply more of them—about 18,000 rooftops in the US—and they’ve been profitable.
Joe Ozog disagrees. He thinks luxury-brand dealerships will change hands at a higher percentage because luxury profits are just peaking. His logic? “As you get to that peak, guys are like, ‘Okay, do I want to wait another eight or ten years before I’m at my peak again, or do I want to sell at my peak?'”
That’s the kind of thinking that leads to big checks being written.
FAQ
Will these dealership sales affect the price I pay for a new car?
Indirectly, yes. Consolidated ownership often means less local price competition. However, manufacturer suggested retail prices (MSRP) are set by Toyota, Ford, and Hyundai themselves, not dealerships. The bigger impact is on negotiation flexibility and add-on fees.
Is my factory warranty still good if the dealership changes owners?
Yes. Factory warranties are backed by the automaker, not the dealership. However, any “dealer-specific” warranties (like “lifetime engine coverage from Smith Motors”) likely disappear when ownership changes. Read your paperwork carefully.
Why are so many dealerships being sold right now?
Two main reasons. First, valuations are high—sellers are cashing out at peak prices. Second, the industry is consolidating. Small groups are being acquired by regional and national chains that have deeper pockets for technology, facilities, and marketing.
Does this mean car brands are taking over dealerships directly?
No. Automakers like Toyota, Ford, and Hyundai don’t typically own dealerships directly (with a few exceptions). These are acquisitions by auto retailer groups like Penske, Hudson, and Lithia. The brands still have to approve the ownership changes, though.
Should I buy a car from a dealership that just changed hands?
It depends. New ownership often means updated facilities and better processes. But it can also mean transition headaches like service appointment delays or new computer systems. Ask the service manager if they kept all the old service records. If yes, you’re probably fine.
What’s the best brand to buy from if I’m worried about dealership stability?
According to Alan Haig of Haig Partners, Toyota and Lexus stores are “not common assets” and rarely become available. If you buy a Toyota, you’re buying into a franchise network with high dealer satisfaction and stable ownership. That said, any major brand (Ford, Hyundai, Honda) will have manufacturer-backed warranties regardless of who owns the local store.
The Bottom Line
“The best dealership groups increasingly practice disciplined portfolio management.” — Alex Watterson, managing director at Presidio
That quote, from a May 2026 press release about Group 1 Automotive’s deals, sums up what’s happening. These aren’t desperate fire sales. They’re strategic moves by billion-dollar companies optimizing their “portfolios.”
For you, the everyday driver, this means three things:
- More professional service (hopefully) as big groups bring standardized training and processes
- Less negotiating power as independent owners disappear
- Pay attention to warranty fine print—especially if your current dealership changes hands
Always check local availability, pricing, and official brand announcements before making purchase decisions. A new owner might mean a new service department policy, but your factory warranty is safe.
This is one of those behind-the-scenes industry shifts that most drivers never think about—until they walk into a dealership and all the signs have changed. It’s worth watching if you’re planning to buy or service a car in the next few years.
