January 2026: Ownership Activity Surges Above Rolling Average
Dealership ownership activity heated up in January 2026, with 27 store changes recorded—significantly above the rolling 9-month average of 20 transactions per month. All activity consisted of buy-sell transactions, with no store closures or new openings reported.
New Hampshire dominated the month's activity with 14 ownership changes, while California followed with 3 transactions and Illinois recorded 2. Activity was also noted in Minnesota, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Missouri, each with 1 transaction.
Notable Transactions
Several significant deals shaped January's landscape. Kunes Auto Group expanded its Minnesota presence by acquiring two Valley Automotive Group stores: Valley Buick-GMC of Apple Valley and Valley GMC of Hastings. Both transactions were facilitated by Performance Brokerage Services.
In Illinois, Carmi Automotive purchased Jansen CDJR in Carmi from Jansen Auto Group, with Tim Lamb Group handling the transaction. Meanwhile, Lester Glenn Auto Group added Quality Chevrolet in Old Bridge, New Jersey, acquiring the store from Jordan Wright through Dave Cantin Group.
On the West Coast, Pierce Automotive Group acquired Lexus Carlsbad in California from Halo Motor Group, marking another notable luxury brand transaction for the month.
Broker Spotlight
January saw active participation from dealership brokers, with Performance Brokerage Services leading the pack by facilitating 5 transactions. The national dealership brokerage firm handling transactions of all sizes across the U.S. played a particularly significant role in the month's Minnesota activity.
Tim Lamb Group, a dealership brokerage firm specializing in franchise dealership sales, completed 1 transaction, while Dave Cantin Group, a dealership buy-sell advisory firm focused on helping dealers through the transaction process, also closed 1 deal. Haig Partners, a buy-sell advisory firm focused on franchise auto dealerships known for representing major dealer groups, facilitated 1 transaction as well.
What This Means for Vendors
The elevated activity in January suggests continued consolidation trends in the automotive retail sector. Vendors should pay particular attention to the significant activity in New Hampshire and the expansion moves by growing groups like Kunes Auto Group. New ownership often brings vendor relationship reviews, making it crucial to maintain strong communication channels with both acquiring groups and newly acquired stores.
Data reflects transactions identified through public records, press releases, and industry news sources. Some transactions may not yet be captured in our database. Stay ahead of ownership changes that could impact your business with a subscription to The Buy-Sell Report.