Choosing the Right Advisor: Buy-Sell Advisors Add Value to the Sales Process

Read the full article online at Automotive News.

When dealers decide that they are interested in selling, the next question is often, “How?” Should they try to sell the business themselves by taking unsolicited calls from buyers or brokers? Should they contact their attorney or CPA and ask them to find a buyer? Or should they engage the services of a buy-sell advisory firm? Because dealerships have become so valuable over the past few years, making the correct decision can often mean millions – perhaps tens of millions of dollars – more in purchase price for the seller, as well as a smoother process. Making an uninformed decision can lead to selling for millions of dollars below market value, creating rumors in the marketplace that make their way to competitors/employees/OEMs that could hurt profitability and value or even a failure to find a buyer at all if the seller is talking to the wrong buyers.

Sell a Dealership Yourself?

When I first entered the industry in 1996 and began buying dealerships for AutoNation, almost every buy-sell was handled directly by the seller. The transactions were usually between the dealer and a general manager or a family member, so there was a lot of knowledge and trust built into the process. Third parties weren’t really needed. But today, dealerships have appreciated so much in value that the majority of dealerships are being purchased by mid-to-large dealership groups. These groups are shopping regionally or nationally and will move aggressively on acquisition opportunities that fit their strategies. The buyers and sellers typically don’t know each other. Because the market has shifted, sellers who choose to work directly with potential buyers are undertaking several risks:

Selling for too little. Sellers often do not understand the true market value of their business and, therefore, when approached directly by a buyer, they may sell the business for a value that is much less than it is worth. Some of the buyers that we interact with tell us about “stealing” dealerships that they buy directly from a seller, with no advisor involved. These sellers may not be properly describing their businesses to potential buyers. They also may not reach the Most Motivated Buyer™ and may not run a competitive process
Failure to obtain a buyer. Some sellers may ask for a price higher than a buyer is willing to pay. Or they may be talking to a buyer who does not have the funds or cannot be approved by an OEM. There are many reasons why a transaction can fail to come together, but when it does, the value of the business can suffer. Profits may fall if the seller becomes distracted while talking to buyers. Buyers may avoid a business when it has been on the market for a long time. And eventually, employees can become aware of a potential sale and may begin to leave. When a business is eventually sold after a “failed auction,” the result could be far less value than if it had been marketed properly.

Ask Your CPA to Find a Buyer?

We have many friends who are CPAs in the auto industry. They are essential advisors to dealers on tax, audit, and other financial and operating matters. And they can be integral to the merger-and-acquisition (M&A) process by verifying financial statements and conducting due diligence. But they are not marketing professionals. They are experts at accounting for what has been, but they are not trained to paint the picture of what could be, and the future is what a buyer is getting. Also, CPAs have existing clients that they could contact as potential buyers, but they may not know about other dealer groups that are not their clients who could be the Most Motivated Buyer™.

Ask Your Attorney to Find You a Buyer?

We regularly work with attorneys across the United States who are experts in advising their dealer clients on all types of corporate, human resources, M&A and regulatory matters. Like CPAs, their services are essential for dealers, and we have great respect for them. But also, like CPAs, the skillset for attorneys is not geared towards maximizing value in a buy-sell. They don’t have the accounting experience to restate historical financial statements or create data-based projections. And as with CPAs, they are not experts in selling the story of what the future of your business could look like to a potential buyer.

Furthermore, lawyers at local firms may have other local dealers as clients, but they likely do not have anywhere close to a nationwide network of potential buyers. CPAs and attorneys are trusted advisors who specialize in very specific areas of your business. This does not mean they are best suited to represent you in the sale of your most valuable asset. In order to maximize the value of their business, most dealers today choose to run a confidential and competitive process led by a buy-sell advisor to identify the Most Motivated Buyer™ for their business.

And finally, CPAs and attorneys are bound by professional standards governing conflicts of interests which may impact their ability to help you identify the Most Motivated Buyer™ for your business.

Use a Dealership Brokerage Firm

Our experience shows that owners should retain the services of buy-sell advisor firms to assist them with the sale of their dealerships. A buy-sell advisor like Haig Partners offers a specialized service based upon our experience over decades, hundreds of transactions, and our relationships with leading buyers across the country. Our interests are purely aligned with our clients’ – we only succeed when our clients do. As we have written in a previous article in Automotive News (Value of an M&A Advisor), there are several key areas where buy-sell advisors add value for their clients:

Maximizing prices by providing compelling and comprehensive offering materials, and running a competitive sales process.
Preserving confidentiality by only approaching a handful of highly interested and qualified buyers and getting them to sign confidentiality agreements before any information is provided.
Speeding the sales process through our knowledge of how to negotiate transactions, avoid risks and solve problems that can occur in a buy-sell. Most dealers now agree with our perspective. Data from Automotive News shows that 64 percent of the stores sold in 2022 were represented by a buy-sell advisory firm. Our team at Haig Partners was pleased to represent the owners of 41 auto dealerships that sold in 2022, which puts us at the top of the list of all buy-sell advisory firms. But what pleases us most is not the quantity of dealerships that we helped to sell, but the results we were able to deliver for our clients, which regularly exceed their expectations. Here are a few examples of our client engagements from 2022:

Case Study #1: A Large Dealership Group – Lehman Auto World. We were retained by the Lehman family to assist them with the sale of their nine franchises in South Florida. Several of the Lehman dealerships needed significant investment in facilities, plus they had an option to purchase another two franchises in South Florida. This was a complicated but very attractive auto group. And given the high earnings and extensive real estate holdings, I knew that we would offer the group to a very limited number of buyers that could afford the purchase price, were approvable by many OEMs at the same time and could handle the extensive capital expenditures required post-closing. During our marketing process, Lithia Motors, the largest automotive retailer in the world, stepped forward as the Most Motivated Buyer™ and we were able to negotiate a transaction.

Case Study #2: A Mid-Sized Dealership Group – Waikem Auto Family. When we were retained by the Waikem Auto Family to advise them on the sale of their six dealerships in Ohio, the owners directed us to market this group to around 10 potential buyers while excluding a handful of direct competitors. Most of the buyers that we contacted were from Ohio. But Kevin Nill from our team had been in contact with the Diehl Automotive Group, based in Pennsylvania, and knew that they were interested in expanding into Ohio. There was good competition from other parties, but the Diehls stepped up with a compelling offer and they now own the stores.

Case Study #3: A Small Dealership Group – McDermott Auto Group. David McDermott is a well-respected dealer who owned Lexus and Chevorlet dealerships in New Haven, Connecticut. When David wanted to retire, he retained us to sell the dealerships and directed us to market them broadly. One complication was that the Lexus facility was old, and we knew Lexus would require a buyer to build a new one. A big part of our offering materials addressed how a buyer could upgrade the facility, the potential costs, and the likely rewards in terms of additional allocation from Lexus. Acquiring a Lexus franchise is a dream for many leading buyers, so we had many options for which potential buyers we wanted to approach. One of my teammates, Nate Klebacha, had sold two dealerships in Connecticut during the previous year to PSD Automotive Group, so we knew they were motivated for additional growth. After a highly competitive process, PSD Automotive made the best offer. PSD also made Lexus happy with a plan for an upgraded facility. Another win-win-win for our client, the buyer and Lexus.

Case Study #4: A Highly Valuable Single-Point Store: John Elway’s Crown Toyota, in Ontario, California. I have known John Elway, Mitch Pierce and Paxton Gagnet since 1996. When Mitch let me know that he and John were open to selling the dealership to redeploy capital into their core markets, but didn’t want to run a large sales process, I was confident I knew the perfect buyer. A former client, Swickard Automotive Group, was well respected by Toyota and was rapidly expanding into southern California. Neither Mitch, John or their attorneys or CPAs knew about the Swickard Automotive Group, which is number 64 on the Automotive News Top 150 Dealership Groups list. Dealer Principal Jeff Swickard quickly saw the special nature of John Elway Crown Toyota and we were able to put together a transaction in which Swickard purchased control of the dealership while Elway, Pierce and Gagnet retained a portion of the ownership. Aside from another Toyota dealership that sold earlier in 2022, we believe John Elway’s Crown Toyota is the most valuable single-point dealership ever sold.

Case Study #5: Two Transactions, One Client – Toyota of Bristol in Tennessee and Summerville Ford in South Carolina. Haig Partners was retained to sell two dealerships owned by the Mitchell Family Office in Michigan, a company with roots in the healthcare industry. As the marketing process evolved, John Davis from our team recognized the uniqueness of these two distinct markets which produced separate buyers, maximizing the value for our client. Summerville is a rapidly growing suburb of Charleston, a lucrative area for many auto dealerships. Many dealers have told us of their desire to acquire stores in this market, so we could quickly provide a list of highly qualified buyers that we knew had the support of the OEMs and plenty of financial capacity. While John sourced numerous attractive offers from dealers inside and outside the market, Hudson Automotive Group was the Most Motivated Buyer™, eager to add a Ford franchise in its hometown. Toyota is among the most desired franchises today, so we also had a long list of potential buyers for that dealership. After heavy bidding, the Alabama-based Springhill Automotive Group, led by Tal Vickers emerged as the Most Motivated Buyer™.

Case Study #6: Two Dealerships, One Client – Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram (CDJR) of Lake Norman and CDJR of Gastonia. The average dealer owns two stores, so this is the most common type of transaction. Jack and Robin Salzman bought CDJR of North Carolina in the late 1990s. After weathering the Great Recession, they built their dealership in North Carolina into one of the highest-selling and most profitable CDJR dealerships in the U.S. And the store is poised to grow even more after it moves into a new facility. The Salzmans decided they wanted to retire from auto retail to spend more time with family and start a new auto-technology business, so they retained Haig Partners after evaluating other buy-sell advisory firms. We put together a comprehensive set of projections to show how the Lake Norman dealership could perform in its newer and much larger facility, projections that demonstrated how the existing facility could be operated as a used-vehicle super store and how the CDJR dealership in Gastonia was poised for future growth due to a booming local economy. After a competitive process that brought offers from numerous leading groups, the dealerships were acquired by Parks Automotive Group, a leading dealer in the Carolinas and Virginia. We are pleased that we were able to help the Salzmans to sell their dealership in North Carolina for what we were told is the highest price ever paid for any CDJR dealership.

In summary, dealership values remain close to record high levels, thanks to strong demand from well-capitalized buyers who are optimistic about the future. Almost two-thirds of sellers today recognize that they should retain a buy-sell advisor to help them when they decide they are ready to proceed. It’s our pleasure to work with dealers of almost every size to help them Maximize the Value of Their Lives’ Work™.

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Source: The Q3 2024 Haig Report® In Q3 2024, the automotive retail industry continued to grapple with declining profits. Publicly owned dealerships reported an average pre-tax income of $1.0M per store, representing a 7% decrease from Q2 2024. When vie [...]

In A More Challenging Automotive Market, Transparency With Your Lender Is Paramount - Insights from Haig Partners

Authored By: Kevin Nill COVID may still be around from a health perspective, but in the car business, it’s now ancient history. Dealers around the country benefited significantly during the crisis as supply shortages turned into sparse vehicle inven [...]

Haig Partners Guides the Sale of Two Toyota Dealerships in West Virginia: A Story of Family, Vision, and Growth

Haig Partners LLC, a leading buy-sell advisory firm for auto, heavy truck, and RV dealers in the U.S., served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to Shawn Ball and David Ball on the sale of their Toyota dealerships in West Virginia. These dealerships, Advan [...]

As Seen in Automotive News - Insights from Haig Partners and the Q3 2024 Report®

The Q3 2024 Haig Report® is featured in the December 9th edition of the Automotive News magazine, highlighting key trends and commentary from Haig Partners. Highlights include: Sales Per Dealership Have Changed Significantly - A five-year lookback of [...]

Alan Haig Offered Insights on Dealership Valuations at 2024 Bank of America Auto Dealer Day

During the 2024 Bank of America Auto Dealer Day, a premier event for the automotive retail industry, Alan Haig, founder of Haig Partners, shared pivotal insights on the evolving valuation landscape for dealerships. The gathering provided a platform for ind [...]

New Vehicle Sales Reach Post-Pandemic Highs: What This Means for Dealership Owners and Valuations

Insights from Erik Haig New data from Cox Automotive reveals that new vehicle sales have reached their highest monthly rate since the pandemic, with December’s Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) hitting 16.5 million. This marks the highest SAAR si [...]

Strategic Divestitures: A Growth Opportunity for Large Dealership Groups

At Haig Partners, we often work with large dealership groups considering whether to divest stores that no longer align with their long-term growth strategies. Recent market conditions and evolving customer demands have prompted many dealers to reevaluate t [...]

Preserving Legacy, Driving Growth: The South Motors and Vista Motors Milestone Transaction

Haig Partners Celebrates a Record-Breaking 2024, Shares 2025 Auto Retail Outlook

In 2024, Haig Partners celebrated a milestone year with 22 transactions involving 58 dealerships nationwide. From single-point dealerships to multi-location groups, including a platform valued at over $1 billion, our clients consistently maximize the value [...]

Mazda: The Quiet Powerhouse in Auto Retail?

In the fast-paced world of automotive retail, some brands shine through headlines while others quietly build their legacy. Mazda, as highlighted in a recent article by Car Dealership Guy Media, falls into the latter category—consistently outperforming ex [...]

Navigating the Future of Dealership Buy-Sells: Key Insights from Alan Haig

At the 2025 AutoTeam America Dealer/CEO/CFO Forum and Buy-Sell Summit at the NADA Show, Haig Partners' founder, Alan Haig, provided an in-depth analysis of the evolving landscape of dealership mergers and acquisitions. His presentation underscored the resi [...]

2025 Economic Outlook for Auto Dealers: A Goldilocks Economy and Growth Opportunities Ahead

The automotive retail industry is gearing up for a strong 2025, as shared in the recent Economic Update at the AutoTeam America Dealer/CEO/CFO Forum and Buy-Sell Summit. With a stable economic foundation, sustained vehicle demand, and a shift in consumer p [...]

Auto Retail in 2025: Insights from Group 1’s CEO Darryl Kenningham and Founder of Haig Partners, Alan Haig

At the 2025 AutoTeam America Dealer/CEO/CFO Forum and Buy-Sell Summit, Haig Partners had the privilege of hosting Darryl Kenningham, CEO of Group 1 Automotive, for an in-depth discussion about the evolving dealership landscape. With Group 1’s stock price [...]

Driving Innovation and Community Impact—A Conversation with Rita Case, 2024 Time Dealer of the Year

At Haig Partners, we have the privilege of working alongside some of the most influential and dynamic leaders in automotive retail. One such leader is Rita Case, the Owner and CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group, a powerhouse with 12 dealerships spanning Sou [...]

Auto Retail in 2025: Optimism, Opportunities, and What Dealers Need to Know

As 2024 began winding down, we assumed many of the trends we were seeing would continue into 2025. Profits would continue to decline, and along with them, dealership blue sky values and the number of dealerships sold. However, we gained some information in [...]

Mazda: Crafting a Legacy of Innovation and Trust - Insights from Haig Partners

Authored by: Jayson Crouch, Managing Director “Proudly founded in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda stands as a testament to sophisticated craftsmanship, innovative spirit, and a purpose-driven approach to enriching life-in-motion. By placing people at the cent [...]

Maximizing Your Dealership Group Through Strategic Acquisitions: Key Takeaways from NADA 2025 Workshop

The 2025 NADA Workshop, led by John Davis, Managing Director with Haig Partners, provided invaluable insights into the latest dealership buy-sell trends, strategic acquisition planning, and key considerations for maximizing dealership value. With Haig P [...]

Haig Partners: The Leading Dealership M&A Advisor for Selling Toyota Dealerships Nationwide

For over a decade, Haig Partners has established itself as the leading buy-sell advisory firm for owners of Toyota dealerships across the United States. Haig Partners has represented more owners of Toyota dealerships in selling their dealerships. Our exper [...]

Haig Partners: The Leading Buy-Sell Advisor for Dealership Sales in Texas

When it comes to selling your dealership in Texas, Haig Partners stands above the competition as the trusted expert in dealership buy-sell transactions. With unmatched experience and results, our firm has successfully advised on the purchase or sale of 48 [...]

Haig Partners Recap: Key Insights from Alan Haig’s DealersEdge Webinar

As the leading advisors to dealership owners looking to sell, Haig Partners provides deep industry insights on automotive retail trends, valuations, and the buy-sell market. In the February 2025 DealersEdge webinar, Alan Haig shared key perspectives on mac [...]

Reflecting on the Sale of Toyota of North Charlotte: A Strategic Move for Growth

At Haig Partners, we take pride in helping dealership owners achieve their business objectives, whether it’s expanding into new markets or strategically divesting stores to optimize their portfolio. One such transaction that stands out is the sale of Toy [...]

The Haig Report® Q4 2024 Recap: Market Trends, Valuations, and Key Franchise Insights from Haig Partners

The Haig Report® Q4 2024, the longest-published industry report tracking trends in auto retail, provides the most comprehensive analysis of auto dealership M&A, blue sky multiples, franchise assessments, and economic trends impacting the industry. Thi [...]

Franchise Performance Insights: Key Trends Shaping Auto Retail in 2025

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® The automotive retail landscape continues to evolve, with franchise dealerships playing a crucial role in shaping market dynamics. As dealership owners evaluate growth opportunities, succession planning, and potential t [...]

Q4 2024 Auto Retail M&A Insights from Haig Partners: Strong Buyer Interest and Continued Deal Activity

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® As anticipated, 2024 was one of the most active years on record for dealership mergers and acquisitions. With an estimated 510 rooftops changing hands, it was the fourth-busiest year for auto retail M&A. The market [...]

Public Auto Retail Acquisitions Slowed in 2024, But Momentum Could Rebound in 2025 – Insights from the Q4 2024 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® The pace of acquisitions by publicly traded auto retailers in the United States slowed significantly in 2024, with an estimated $1.7 billion spent on dealership acquisitions. The majority of that capital was deployed in [...]

The Transportation Freedom Act: Featured in the Q4 2024 Haig Report

The latest Haig Report® features the Transportation Freedom Act, a newly proposed bill introduced by U.S. Senator and former auto dealer Bernie Moreno. Designed to support American auto workers, reduce regulatory burdens, and improve vehicle affordability [...]

Keep Calm and Sell On: Automotive Retail Buy-Sell Insights from Alan Haig

Our industry has weathered countless risks in the past, and it will weather tariffs as well. President Trump announced tariffs that will be levied against imported vehicles and parts. No one can accurately calculate what this means for auto dealership p [...]

Q4 2024 Haig Report: Key Franchise Valuation Shifts and Blue Sky Multiple Updates

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® Auto dealership valuations are constantly evolving, influenced by market trends, buyer demand, and economic conditions. At Haig Partners, we meticulously track these shifts through transaction data, industry conversatio [...]

Blue Sky Values Decline but Remain Strong: Insights from the Q4 2024 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® The valuation of auto dealerships has been a crucial factor for buyers and sellers in the retail automotive M&A market. According to the Q4 2024 Haig Report®, blue sky values have declined from their peak but remai [...]

Tariffs, Inflation, and Economic Shifts: Trends Impacting Auto Retail from the Q4 2024 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® As the automotive retail landscape continues to evolve, dealership owners must stay informed about key economic shifts that could directly impact their operations. The Q4 2024 Haig Report from Haig Partners highlights s [...]

SAAR Lifts in Early 2025: Insights from Haig Partners

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® The start of 2025 has brought encouraging news for auto dealers across the country. The Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) climbed sharply in February, signaling strong retail momentum that may shape the year ahead. [...]

Inventories Stack Up in January: Key Takeaways from the Q4 2024 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® At Haig Partners, we are committed to helping dealership owners stay ahead of the trends shaping the auto retail landscape. Our latest Q4 2024 Haig Report® reveals that while the end of 2024 brought record-fast vehicle [...]

Sales Trends from the Q4 2024 Haig Report®: What Dealers Need to Know

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® As the auto retail industry reflects on the close of 2024, Haig Partners is pleased to share insights from the Q4 2024 Haig Report®, offering dealership owners a valuable look at how brand performance has evolved acros [...]

New Vehicle Affordability Improves, But Challenges Remain

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® Heading into 2025, dealership owners across the country are laser-focused on a major concern: vehicle affordability. According to a January 2025 Automotive News survey, it topped the list of dealer priorities heading in [...]

Q4 2024 Haig Report® Insights: New Vehicle Gross Profits Rise for First Time in Two Years

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® For the first time in over two years, new vehicle gross profits have turned a corner—at least for now. According to the latest Q4 2024 Haig Report®, the average publicly owned dealership recorded an estimated $3,2 [...]

Used Vehicle Gross Profits Slide to Pre-Pandemic Levels: Insights from Haig Partners

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® Used vehicle margins are under pressure—and dealership owners should take notice. According to the Q4 2024 Haig Report, front-end gross profit per used vehicle retailed (PVR) at publicly owned dealerships averaged [...]

F&I Gross Profit Growth Resumes in Q4 2024 – Haig Partners Insight

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® At Haig Partners, we closely track profitability trends across retail automotive, and our Q4 2024 Haig Report reveals a promising update for dealers: F&I gross profit per vehicle retailed (PVR) is on the rise again. [...]

Fixed Operations Gross Profit Grows Despite Industry Headwinds – Q4 2024 Haig Report® Insights

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® Our latest Haig Report® reveals a noteworthy trend for dealership owners: fixed operations gross profit continued to rise in 2024, even amid a year filled with disruption and uncertainty. According to our data, the ave [...]

Dealership Profits Still Falling, But Signs of Stabilization in Q4 2024 - Insights from Haig Partners

Source: The Q4 2024 Haig Report® While dealership profitability continued to decline in Q4 2024, the rate of the slide slowed significantly—offering a potential signal that stability may be on the horizon for auto retailers. The average publicly owne [...]

Haig Partners Tariff Tools & Resources

A curated collection of timely tools, expert insights, and industry updates to help dealers navigate today’s evolving market—from tariff impacts and pricing shifts to strategic planning and policy developments—all in one place. Looking for persona [...]

The Future of Family-Owned Dealerships: Get Bigger or Get Out?

The auto retail industry is in the midst of a seismic shift. As consolidation accelerates, generational dynamics evolve, and the cost of competing continues to rise, family-owned dealerships face a critical decision: build for the future—or consider a sa [...]

Should You Sell, Stay, or Do Both? Exploring Flexible Exit Strategies for Dealership Owners

Dealers who may not want to exit the industry completely can consider divesting a store or selling a minority or majority stake in a dealership. In today’s evolving retail automotive landscape, dealership owners are faced with more options than ever b [...]

Haig Partners Joined Industry Leaders at NY Auto Forum and Dealer Day

We’re grateful to have taken part in two outstanding events this year, the NY Auto Forum and Bank of America's 2025 Auto Dealer Day. We were honored to participate in both events and contribute to the important conversations shaping the future of our ind [...]

Choosing the Right Advisor: Why Specialized Dealership Buy-Sell Advisors Matter

Insights from Haig Partners Selling a dealership is one of the most significant decisions an owner will ever make. Whether you've recently received an unsolicited offer, discussed the idea with your CPA or attorney, or are just beginning to explore what [...]

The Value of an M&A Advisor: Guiding Dealers Through the Choice to Buy, Sell, or Do Both

Selling a car dealership is a complex process that’s fraught with risks. That’s why it’s prudent to consult with an experienced M&A advisor who can help sellers avoid mistakes that can cost them millions of dollars. But just how do M&A ad [...]

Senator Bernie Moreno and Alan Haig on Tariffs, EV Mandates, and the Future of Auto Retail

In a compelling and timely conversation, Senator Bernie Moreno—an auto industry veteran turned legislator—and Alan Haig, President and Founder of Haig Partners, explored the pressing issues shaping the future of auto retail. Their dialogue centered on [...]

Not Just Inheriting—Creating: Brett Morgan’s Path into Auto Retail

In our conversation with Brett Morgan, he reflected on the early pressure of joining the family business after years of summer jobs and a clear expectation that he’d follow in his father’s footsteps. He recalls questioning the value of a liberal arts e [...]

Succession Starts with Self-Honesty: Brett Morgan on Growth Through Dialogue

Effective succession isn’t defined by titles or timelines—it’s shaped by conversations grounded in honesty and mutual respect. Brett Morgan reflects on how humility and self-awareness, especially between generations, are essential to making successio [...]

Side-by-Side Growth: Brett Morgan Reflects on Working with His Father

Working alongside his father gave Brett Morgan something few next-generation leaders get—a front-row seat to leadership in action. He describes their working relationship as both fascinating and formative, allowing him to grow in maturity, business under [...]

A Milestone Deal Revisited: The Sale of John Elway's Crown Toyota

At Haig Partners, we are proud to have served as the exclusive advisor on the sale of a majority stake in John Elway’s Crown Toyota to Swickard Auto Group—one of the most significant dealership transactions in recent memory. This sale, which closed in [...]

A Legacy Transitions: Vic Bailey Automotive and the Crossroads Facing Family-Owned Dealerships

In December 2023, Haig Partners was privileged to serve as the exclusive sell-side advisor to the Bailey family in the sale of Vic Bailey Automotive, a five-store group in Spartanburg, SC, to Hudson Automotive Group. The transaction marked the end of a rem [...]

Q1 2025 Haig Report®: A Moment of Clarity in a Market of Contradictions

By Alan Haig, President of Haig Partners At Haig Partners, we’ve spent more than a decade analyzing the forces that shape auto retail and how they influence dealership values. The Q1 2025 edition of The Haig Report®—our 44th consecutive quarterly p [...]

Buy-Sell Market Sees Sharp Drop in Q1, but Momentum Expected to Rebound - Insights from Haig Partners

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® After one of the busiest years on record for dealership M&A, the first quarter of 2025 brought a sharp and unexpected slowdown. Just 68 rooftops changed hands in Q1, marking a 57% decline from the same period last y [...]

Public Auto Retailers Hit Pause on U.S. Acquisitions in Q1 2025 - Insights from Haig Partners

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® Publicly traded auto retailers nearly halted their U.S. acquisition activity in the first quarter of 2025. According to proprietary data from the Q1 2025 Haig Report®, the six major public consolidators—Asbury, [...]

Q1 2025 Haig Report® Insights - Blue Sky Multiples Hold Steady Amid Market Uncertainty

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® Auto dealership valuations are shaped by a complex mix of financial performance, brand positioning, and evolving economic factors. At Haig Partners, we track these changes closely by analyzing live transaction data [...]

GM’s Product Renaissance Drives Dealer Confidence and Profits - Insights from Q1 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® General Motors is in the midst of a product-driven resurgence that’s energizing dealership operations and attracting strong investor attention. According to insights from the Q1 2025 Haig Report®, GM posted an i [...]

Blue Sky Values Hold Steady Amid Market Uncertainty - Haig Partners Insights

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® While dealership profits have cooled from their 2023 peak, blue sky values remain remarkably resilient. According to the latest analysis in the Q1 2025 Haig Report®, the average publicly owned dealership in the U.S. po [...]

Q1 2025 Haig Report® Insights - Consumer Sentiment Hits New Lows

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® Consumer confidence continues its downward spiral in 2025, with implications that dealership owners and investors can’t afford to ignore. According to insights from the Q1 2025 Haig Report®, the University of Michig [...]

SAAR Surges, But Uncertainty Looms - Insights from Haig Partners

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® The auto retail market came out of the gate strong in 2025, with sales volumes climbing and SAAR (Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate) performance surpassing expectations. According to insights from the Q1 2025 Haig Re [...]

Inventory Tightens as Buyers Move Fast - Insights from the Q1 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® New-vehicle inventory levels at U.S. dealerships took a sharp turn downward at the end of Q1 2025, signaling a return to tighter supply conditions not seen since 2023. According to Haig Partners’ proprietary research [...]

Haig Partners Insights – Q1 2025 Auto Sales Surge Led by Luxury and Value Segments

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® The Q1 2025 Haig Report reveals that U.S. auto sales are off to a strong start this year, with March posting the highest monthly volume in four years. Many brands saw significant sales gains in the first quarter— [...]

Q1 2025: New Vehicle Affordability Reaches Best Level in Nearly 4 Years - Insights from Haig Partners

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® As of March 2025, new vehicle affordability in the U.S. reached its most favorable level since mid-2021—before potential price hikes from newly implemented tariffs could take effect. According to Cox Automotive, [...]

Insights from the Q1 2025 Haig Report®- New Vehicle Gross Profits Slide 14% Year-over-Year, But May Be Nearing a Floor

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® In Q1 2025, publicly owned auto dealerships saw average front-end gross profits per new vehicle retailed (PNR) fall to $3,135, marking a 14.4% drop year-over-year and a 4.9% decline from Q4 2024. While still 65.1% [...]

Haig Partners Insights – Used Vehicle Gross Profits Rebound in Q1 2025

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® Used vehicle operations are gaining momentum once again. According to the Q1 2025 Haig Report, the average publicly owned auto dealership earned $1,642 in front-end gross profit per used vehicle retailed (PVR). Thi [...]

Q1 2025 Haig Report Insights® – F&I Gross Profits Continue Climbing in Q1 2025, Approaching Historic Highs

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® In Q1 2025, finance and insurance (F&I) profits at U.S. auto dealerships continued to show strength, providing a bright spot in an otherwise volatile retail environment. According to our latest analysis, the av [...]

Fixed Ops Profits Surge in Q1 2025, Driven by EV Repairs and Market Shifts - Insights from Haig Partners

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® Fixed operations are proving to be a bright spot for auto dealerships in 2025. According to our Q1 2025 Haig Report, gross profits from fixed operations at publicly traded auto retailers jumped 5.8% year-over-year� [...]

Q1 2025 Haig Report® Insights - Dealership Profits Stay Strong Despite Headwinds

Source: The Q1 2025 Haig Report® In the first quarter of 2025, publicly owned auto dealerships continued to post strong results, even amid economic uncertainty and evolving market conditions. According to Haig Partners’ Q1 2025 Haig Report, the [...]

Inside California Auto Retail: EV Policy, Legal Reform, and the Franchise Model — A Conversation with Brian Maas of CNCDA

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. In this episode of Riding Shotgun, Haig Partners’ Alan Haig and Jayson Crouch sit down with Brian Maas, President of the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), f [...]

CARB Exemption Reversal Clears the Road for Dealership Growth in California

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. The dealership buy-sell market in California just received a significant boost. In a discussion hosted by Jayson Crouch and Alan Haig of Haig Partners, with guest Brian Maa [...]

Apple Automotive’s Strategic Sale: Preserving a Legacy, Unlocking Future Growth

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. Haig Partners is proud to have served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to The Stewart Companies in the sale of Apple Automotive Group in 2024—a transaction believed to [...]

Why Every Dealer Should Support Their State Dealer Association

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. In a recent podcast conversation with Haig Partners’ Jayson Crouch and Alan Haig, Brian Maas, President of the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), delivered a [...]

A Legacy of Leadership: Bill Kidd’s Toyota and Volvo Dealerships

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. At Haig Partners, we understand that selling a family-owned dealership is about more than a financial transaction—it’s about legacy, relationships, and finding the righ [...]

Fewer Lawsuits, Lower Risk: PAGA Changes Shift the Legal Landscape for California Dealers

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. Legal exposure has long been one of the most unpredictable and expensive line items for California dealers. For years, the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) has loomed l [...]

A Record-Breaking Sale That Still Sets the Standard: Hollywood Kia, One Year Later

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. Haig Partners had the privilege of advising on a landmark transaction: the sale of Hollywood Kia in Hollywood, Florida. The deal, which closed on June 5, 2024, set the reco [...]

How the Big Beautiful Bill Could Impact Dealership Values, Buy-Sell Activity, and Tax Strategy

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. As the leading dealership buy-sell advisor in the country, Haig Partners is committed to providing timely, relevant, and actionable insights that help auto dealers make bet [...]

Why the New Tax Bill May Drive Up Dealership Values and Buyer Demand

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. The recently passed “Big, Beautiful Bill” is more than just a tax overhaul—it’s a potential catalyst for higher dealership valuations and renewed buyer activity. [...]

A Dealership Built on Community and Care: Haig Partners Leads Sale of Dinsdale Auto

Preserving a Legacy. Maximizing Value. Supporting a Community Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. Haig Partners served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to Tom and Kim Dinsdale on the sale of Tom Dinsdale [...]

EV Tax Credits Are Disappearing: What This Means for Dealership Owners, Facility Planning, and Buy-Sell Value

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. As part of the sweeping “Big, Beautiful Bill” signed into law on July 4th, several electric vehicle (EV)-related tax credits are set to expire in the coming months an [...]

From Stewardship to Success: Record-Setting Mazda Sale Marks New Chapter for the Hodges Family

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. When it comes to selling a family-owned dealership, the transaction is rarely just about the numbers. For the Hodges family, it was about honoring a legacy of leadership, s [...]

Auto Retail 2025 Profit Outlook: A Midyear Pulse on Dealer Sentiment

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. As we cross the midpoint of 2025, Haig Partners’ ongoing pulse surveys with dealers reveal a sharp shift in sentiment surrounding dealership profitability this year. Each [...]

Stellantis Recalibrates—A Pivotal Shift in Pricing, Product Strategy, and Market Share - Insights from the Haig Report®

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. After years of pricing missteps and market share erosion, Stellantis is beginning to correct course. Family-owned dealerships should keep a close eye on this shift as it ma [...]

2025 Outlook: Why Deal Quality and Buyer Readiness Are Driving a Competitive M&A Market

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. At the start of 2025, there was cautious optimism that dealership M&A activity would accelerate. Improved earnings consistency and stabilized operating result [...]

Haig Partners Advises Top 150 Dealer, Jeff Swickard, on Sale of Mercedes-Benz of South Austin

Jeff Swickard Sells Mercedes-Benz of South Austin to Group 1 Automotive in Strategic Realignment Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. At Haig Partners, we have the privilege of working with some of the most [...]

Passing the Torch in Texas: How Patriot Buick-GMC’s Sale Reflects the Emotional and Strategic Journey Facing Family-Owned Dealerships Today

Introduction: A Milestone Moment in Killeen Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. Haig Partners is proud to have served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to John Kliewer, owner of Patriot Buick-GMC, on the [...]

Why Haig Partners Is Investing Heavily in California—and What That Means for Dealers in 2025

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. California has long been a cornerstone of the U.S. retail automotive industry—home to some of the most valuable franchises, the most active markets, and the most complex [...]

Understanding Blue Sky Multiples in 2025: What They Reveal About the Value of Your Dealership

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. For more than a decade, Haig Partners has published the Haig Report®, the most widely referenced source for Blue Sky multiples in the U.S. auto retail industry. These mult [...]

What the “Big, Beautiful Bill” Means for Dealership Owners: Tax Benefits Explained

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. On July 4th, a sweeping piece of legislation—dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Bill”—was signed into law, ushering in significant changes to the tax code that will directl [...]

Fighting for Fairness: Why CNCDA’s Push to Raise the DOC Fee Matters for California Dealers

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. At this year’s CNCDA Dealer Day, one message came through loud and clear: California dealers are facing the highest regulatory burdens in the country, yet they’re allow [...]

Reflecting on the Record-Breaking Sale of South Motors & Vista Motors

Haig Partners served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to the Dascal family on the sale of South Motors and Vista Motors to Morgan Automotive Group—one of the most valuable dealership groups ever purchased. The transaction included nine dealerships a [...]

Haig Partners Advised Duval Motors in Sale to Lithia, Strengthening Its Ford Legacy

Haig Partners had the privilege of advising Duval Motor Company, a fourth-generation, family-owned dealership group based in Jacksonville, Florida, in the 2024 sale of its Honda, Acura, and Subaru dealerships to Lithia & Driveway. This transaction repr [...]

Betting on Yourself: How Jack and Robin Salzman Built, Grew, and Sold Two Record-Setting Stellantis Dealerships

Haig Partners served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to the Salzman family in the 2023 sale of Lake Norman and Gastonia CDJR to Parks Automotive Group, a transaction believed to have set a record for the highest-value Stellantis dealership ever sold. [...]

Q2 2025 Haig Report® Insights: Why Toyota Remains the Blue Chip Brand in Auto Retail

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® Toyota has once again proven why it is widely considered the “blue chip” of U.S. auto retail. In Q2 2025, Toyota sales climbed 7.1% year-over-year, reaching 666,469 units and commanding a 14.2% share of the U.S [...]

Buy-Sell Activity Slows but Market Fundamentals Remain Strong - Q2 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® The first half of 2025 brought a noticeable slowdown in auto dealership buy-sell activity compared to the record-setting pace of 2024. According to the Q2 2025 Haig Report, an estimated 192 U.S. dealerships changed han [...]

Q2 2025 Haig Report® Insights: Public Company Acquisition Spending Slows in H1 2025

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® Public dealership groups took a cautious approach to acquisitions in the first half of 2025, with total spending on U.S. auto dealerships dropping to $1.0 billion, a 26% decline from the $1.4 billion spent during t [...]

Blue Sky Values Tick Higher After Long Decline in Q2 2025

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® After twelve straight quarters of decline, blue sky values for public company-owned dealerships finally turned upward in Q2 2025. According to the latest Haig Report®, the average dealership’s blue sky value rose to [...]

Updates to National Average Blue Sky Multiples - Q2 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® At Haig Partners, we closely track the dealership buy-sell market to understand how demand for various franchises is shifting and what this means for valuations. Our National Average Blue Sky Multiples provide a benchm [...]

Q2 2025 Haig Report®: What Retail Trends Mean for Car Dealership Owners

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® At Haig Partners, our mission is to help dealership owners maximize the value of their life’s work. Every quarter, we publish the Haig Report®, the longest-running and most trusted resource tracking auto retail perf [...]

SAAR Slips in Q2 2025: What It Means for Dealership Owners Considering a Sale

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® The Q2 2025 Haig Report® reveals a modest decline in the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) for light-vehicle sales, averaging 16.1 million units compared to 16.4 million in Q1. June capped the quarter at 15.3 [...]

Q2 2025 Haig Report®: Dealer Inventories Rise as Sales Slow, MY’26 Units Arrive

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® In Q2 2025, the auto retail landscape shifted in ways that should be on every dealer’s radar. According to the Haig Report®, new-vehicle inventories climbed to approximately 2.8 million units by the end of June, [...]

Q2 2025 New Vehicle Sales Rose Unevenly — What It Means for Dealers Considering a Sale

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® The Q2 2025 Haig Report® shows that U.S. new vehicle sales grew a modest 2.3% year-over-year, but the gains were far from evenly distributed. While some franchises surged ahead, others stumbled under the weight of [...]

Q2 2025 Haig Report®: Can Affordability Challenges Reshape Dealership Values?

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® Affordability remained one of the biggest hurdles for car buyers in Q2 2025. While there was some modest improvement by quarter-end, the reality is clear: affordability continues to constrain demand and shape deale [...]

New Vehicle Gross Profits Rebound in Q2 2025: What It Means for the Future of Dealership Valuations

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® After three years of steady declines, new vehicle gross profits finally turned a corner in Q2 2025. According to the Q2 2025 Haig Report®, the publicly traded dealership groups reported that new vehicle gross prof [...]

Used Vehicle Profits Steady in Q2 2025: What It Means for Dealers Planning Their Next Move

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® Used vehicle gross profits continued to show strength in Q2 2025, offering dealers a reliable source of income amid ongoing challenges in the new vehicle market. According to The Haig Report®, used vehicle gross p [...]

Beyond the Showroom: How F&I Continues to Help Power Profits in 2025

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® Finance & Insurance (F&I) remains one of the most dependable profit centers for dealerships—and Q2 2025 reinforced just how important it is to the bottom line. According to the Q2 2025 Haig Report®, publ [...]

Fixed Operations: The Quiet Profit Engine Driving Dealership Value in 2025

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® In Q2 2025, fixed operations once again proved to be the most reliable profit engine for auto retailers. Same-store gross profit from service, parts, and body shop work rose 8.4% year-over-year, making fixed ops t [...]

Q2 2025 Dealership Profits Defy Expectations: What Rising Earnings Mean for Your Store’s Value

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® Dealership owners received some welcome news in Q2 2025: profits for the average publicly owned dealership climbed sharply, bucking the broader trend of recent declines. According to the Q2 2025 Haig Report®, average [...]

The Power of Volume: Why High-Throughput Dealerships Command Premium Value

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® In auto retail, volume drives value. For OEMs, sales volume is the ultimate measure of success. For dealers, volume per location is what separates average performers from market leaders. The latest Q2 2025 Haig Report� [...]

Porsche Franchises: Why Multiples Matter—But Aren’t the Only Factor in Valuation

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® At Haig Partners, we are proud to be the only dealership M&A advisory firm that has tracked and published franchise multiples every quarter since January 2014. This long-standing commitment gives our clients a uniq [...]

Why Lexus Franchises Remain Among the Most Valuable in Auto Retail

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® At Haig Partners, we know that the question on every dealer’s mind when considering a sale is simple: What is my dealership worth? One important piece of that answer is the franchise multiple – the “blue sky” [...]

Why BMW Dealerships Remain Among the Most Sought-After Assets in Auto Retail

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® At Haig Partners, we know that when dealers evaluate whether now is the right time to sell their business, franchise desirability plays a critical role in determining blue sky values. That’s why, since January 20 [...]

What Mercedes-Benz Dealers Need to Know About Valuations in 2025

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® At Haig Partners, we know that dealership owners thinking about selling their business want clarity about what their store is worth. For more than a decade, we’ve been the only buy-sell advisory firm that tracks [...]

Jaguar Land Rover Dealership Values: What Owners Need to Know in Today’s Market

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® In Q2 2025, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) stood out once again with notable sales momentum—Land Rover sales surged 16.2% year-over-year. At first glance, this appears to be a win for JLR retailers. But as experienced opera [...]

Audi Dealership Values Face Mounting Pressure in Q2 2025

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® At Haig Partners, we work with dealership owners every day who want to understand the true value of their businesses. One of the most important considerations in that process is franchise multiples, which serve as a b [...]

Cadillac Multiples Hold Steady: Can the Momentum Last?

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® Cadillac dealers enjoyed a standout quarter in Q2 2025, with sales up 15.3% year-over-year. This momentum reflects the successful launch of several new EVs, including the Optiq, Vistiq, and Escalade iQ, which arrived [...]

Volvo Dealers Face Tariffs, EV Pivots, and Niche Demand—What It Means for Valuations

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® Volvo’s position in the U.S. auto retail market continues to be both intriguing and complex. In Q2 2025, Volvo posted a modest 4.4% sales increase, driven in part by consumer interest in models like the EX30 and EX90 [...]

Is Acura’s Growth Sustainable? What Dealership Owners Need to Watch

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® In Q2 2025, Acura delivered an 11.8% sales increase, a strong rebound powered by the launch of the new ADX subcompact luxury SUV. Positioned at a more accessible $35,000–$38,000 MSRP, the ADX has quickly become an a [...]

Q2 2025 Lincoln Report: Strong Sales, But Do Dealership Values Tell a Different Story?

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® Lincoln delivered one of the strongest performances in Q2 2025, with sales climbing 31.0% year-over-year, driven by robust demand for the redesigned Navigator and its “Employee Pricing for All” campaign. On the sur [...]

Infiniti Dealership Values: Navigating a Brand in Decline

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® Infiniti Dealership Valuations in Q2 2025: What Sellers Need to Know Before Making Their Next Move Infiniti sales declined 12.7% year-over-year in Q2 2025, continuing a nearly decade-long slide. To put that into pe [...]

Owning a Toyota Dealership Has Never Been More Valuable: Q2 2025 Insights for Sellers

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® Quarter after quarter, Toyota has delivered industry-leading throughput, enviable profitability, and some of the highest blue sky values in the market. Its hybrid-first strategy has proven prescient, allowing dealers [...]

Honda Dealership Valuations: Why Q2 2025 Signals Strength for Sellers

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® Honda dealerships are proving once again why they remain one of the most attractive non-luxury franchises in auto retail. In Q2 2025, Honda sales increased 8.4%, making it the second-fastest growing midline import bra [...]

Subaru Dealership Values Hold Steady Despite Q2 Sales Decline

Subaru has long been a beloved brand in the U.S. market, with a reputation for customer loyalty, reliability, and dealer profitability. Yet in Q2 2025, Subaru reported an 8.6% year-over-year decline in sales, one of the steeper drops among non-luxury brand [...]

Kia Dealership Valuations: Q2 2025 Sales Growth Pushes Multiples Higher

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® Kia continues its impressive momentum in 2025, posting a 5.2% year-over-year sales increase in Q2. Dealers delivered 416,511 vehicles through June, an all-time first-half record, marking a 7.8% gain over the same perio [...]

Record Sales, Rising Multiples: Hyundai & Genesis Dealership Value Insights for Q2 2025

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® In Q2 2025, Hyundai and Genesis continued to stand out among midline import franchises. U.S. sales for the brands rose 10.3% year-over-year, with Hyundai moving nearly 236,000 vehicles—a record-setting first half [...]

Realigning for Growth: AutoCanada Sells Four Illinois Dealerships with Haig Partners as Exclusive Advisor

Haig Partners advised Leader Automotive Group on the sale of four Illinois dealerships as part of a broader portfolio realignment. AutoCanada’s U.S. subsidiary, Leader Automotive Group, recently completed the sale of four dealerships in the Chicagolan [...]

2025 Dealership Buy-Sell Insights: Profitability, Valuations, and Market Opportunities

Source: Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference: Toyota and Ford National Dealer Meetings Las Vegas In September, Haig Partners hosted the Maximizing Value Conference at the Toyota and Ford National Dealer Meetings in Las Vegas. Our leadership team a [...]

Reflecting on the Sale of Bulldog Kia to Butler Automotive Group

The sale of Bulldog Kia to Butler Automotive Group stands out as a meaningful transaction where culture, legacy, and market opportunity came together. Haig Partners served as the exclusive sell-side advisor, ensuring the dealership’s transition honored i [...]

Revisiting the Sale of Shockley Honda: A Landmark Transaction in Maryland Auto Retail

Haig Partners proudly served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to the Shockley family in the sale of Shockley Honda in Frederick, Maryland to Chris Ourisman and the Ourisman Automotive Group. As we look back in 2025, this milestone transaction continues t [...]

Riding Shotgun with NADA’s Mike Stanton: What Every Family-Owned Dealer Should Know Now

Conversation highlights from Alan Haig and John Murphy with Haig Partners on the “Riding Shotgun” podcast featuring, NADA President & CEO Mike Stanton. Watch the accompanying video to go deeper. The headline in one sentence Despite noisy head [...]

A Legacy of Excellence: The Record-Setting Sale of Al Hendrickson Toyota

Al Hendrickson Toyota, located in Coconut Creek, Florida, has long been one of the nation’s most successful dealerships. Founded in 1989 as a father-son business, the store grew into a powerhouse under the leadership of Al Hendrickson Jr., earning recogn [...]

Haig Partners Leads Texas Dealership Buy-Sell Market with 12 Rooftops Sold in 2025, Marking 53 Stores Bought or Sold in the Lone Star State

As of October 13, 2025 Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. When it comes to dealership M&A in Texas, no firm has matched the scale, success, and local expertise of Haig Partners. So far in 2025, Haig P [...]

Nissan Dealership Valuations in Q2 2025: What Dealers Need to Know About a Volatile Brand

Source: The Q2 2025 Haig Report® Nissan’s story in the first half of 2025 is one of contrasts: recognition for quality and incremental profitability improvements on the one hand, and declining sales and mounting financial losses on the other. Fo [...]

A Strategic Sale in California’s Strong Market: Haig Partners Advises Bruce Kavich in the Sale of Acura of Fremont

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn.Want insider knowledge on the most up to date trends in auto retail? Subscribe to The Haig Report®. At Haig Partners, we have the privilege of advising some of the most a [...]

Reflecting on the Sale of BMW of Bridgeport to Mauro Motors and the Continued Strength of BMW Dealership Values

At Haig Partners, we take pride in helping dealers maximize the value of their life’s work and in celebrating the success stories that continue to resonate years later. One such example is the sale of BMW of Bridgeport in Connecticut to Mauro Motors, whe [...]

From Family Legacy to New Growth: The Story Behind the Sale of Lebanon Ford

At Haig Partners, we take pride in helping dealers achieve their strategic and financial goals through expertly guided transactions. One such success story was the sale of Lebanon Ford in Lebanon, New Hampshire, where Haig Partners served as the exclusive [...]

Passing the Wheel: Real-World Succession Lessons for Dealership Owners

Haig Partners Insights from the Maximizing Value Conference Succession Planning Panel held in conjunction with the Toyota and Ford National Dealer Meetings - September 2025 Family-owned dealerships are at an inflection point. With more than 90% of U.S. [...]

Legacy Meets Opportunity: Haig Partners Advises Galeana Auto Group on Multi-State Sale

Every successful dealership group has a story that begins with passion, perseverance, and a belief in the power of relationships. For Galeana Auto Group, that story spans more than 40 years, three states, and generations of family leadership. Founde [...]

Legacy in Motion: Haig Partners Advises on the Historic Sale of Third-Generation Bosak Auto Group

Another record-setting transaction underscores Haig Partners’ role as the leading buy-sell advisor to family-owned dealerships nationwide Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn. A Century of Family Ownershi [...]

Automotive Retail Economic Update & The Path to Higher Profits

Insights from John Murphy, Managing Director, Strategic Advisory, presented at the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference held alongside the Toyota and Ford National Dealer Meetings (Sept. 2025). If you are interested in listening to the full discuss [...]

Q3 2025 Haig Report® Recap: Strong Profits, Rising Blue Sky Values, and a Reaccelerating Buy-Sell Market

The Q3 2025 Haig Report® presents a clear picture of a resilient and attractive auto retail sector. Despite policy volatility, supply chain noise, and shifting EV incentives, dealership performance remained exceptionally strong. Earnings continued to rise [...]

Q3 2025 Haig Report®: Shifts in National Average Blue Sky Multiples

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® At Haig Partners, we closely monitor the buy-sell market to help dealership owners understand evolving franchise desirability, market conditions, and what buyers are truly willing to pay. In Q3 2025, our team conducted [...]

Ford Franchise Highlight: Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Opportunity - From the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: Q3 2025 Haig Report®Download the full Ford Franchise Highlight excerpt as a PDF. The Ford retail network is navigating a complex moment. Dealers across the country are feeling the effects of quality challenges, limited new-product flow, supply [...]

Key Trends Shaping Auto Retail – Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® The Q3 2025 Haig Report® reveals an auto retail landscape influenced by shifting economic forces, evolving regulations, and new challenges in the global supply chain. For dealership owners planning their strategy for 2 [...]

New Vehicle Profits Take a Short-Term Dip – Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® New vehicle profitability took a meaningful step back in Q3 2025, offering dealership owners an important reminder of how quickly market dynamics can shift. According to data from the publicly traded auto retaile [...]

Q3 2025 Haig Report®: Used Vehicle Gross Profits Slip Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report®Used vehicle profitability continued to face pressure in Q3 2025, according to our latest Haig Report®. Used gross profit per unit (PVR) among the public retailers declined to an average of $1,528, bringing margins back i [...]

Dealership M&A Activity Rebounds in Q3 – Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® The Q3 2025 Haig Report® shows a decisive shift in the trajectory of dealership M&A activity. After a notably slow first half of the year, transaction volume surged in the third quarter, reaffirming strong buyer co [...]

Q3 2025 Haig Report®: Blue Sky Values Rise Thanks to Surprisingly Strong Earnings

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® Blue sky values continued their upward momentum in Q3 2025, reflecting both resilient dealership earnings and renewed buyer confidence across the auto retail market. At Haig Partners, our methodology for estimating aver [...]

Q3 2025 Haig Report®: F&I Gross Profits Climb Toward New Highs

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® Finance and Insurance (F&I) performance remains one of the most resilient profit drivers in auto retail, and Q3 2025 underscored that strength once again. In our Q3 2025 Haig Report®, the publicly traded auto retai [...]

Q3 2025 Haig Report®: EV-Driven Sales Shake Up Market Share

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® The third quarter of 2025 delivered one of the most pronounced shifts in market share we’ve seen in years, driven almost entirely by consumer behavior ahead of a major policy change. With the federal EV incentive expi [...]

Q3 2025 Haig Report®: New Vehicle Affordability Worsens as Tariff Impacts Loom

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® New vehicle affordability is once again under pressure, reversing a full year of gradual improvement—and the timing could challenge both consumers and dealers as pricing dynamics shift heading into 2026. In [...]

New Vehicle Inventories Surge, but Upcoming Disruptions Could Shift the Balance - Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® New vehicle inventories surged in September, marking a noticeable shift in the supply landscape as production continued to rebound. Even with strong sales, most brands reported ample availability, pushing the U.S. avera [...]

Fixed Operations Profit Growth Accelerates – Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® Fixed operations once again proved to be one of the most reliable drivers of dealership profitability in Q3 2025. According to our latest analysis, fixed operations gross profit among the public auto retailers rose 8.3% [...]

Q3 2025 Haig Report®: Dealership Earnings Continue to Climb

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report®Dealership earnings posted another strong quarter in Q3 2025, extending the momentum that began earlier this year. As we analyze the latest performance trends from the publicly traded auto retailers, one message stands [...]

A Look Back at the Transition of Two Leading Toyota Dealerships in West Virginia

In 2024, Haig Partners served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to the owners of Advantage Toyota and Ball Toyota of Charleston on their sale to Victory Automotive Group. As we reflect on this significant transaction, it stands as a compelling example of [...]

Q3 2025 Haig Report®: SAAR Rises as EV Sales Surge

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® September closed out Q3 2025 with meaningful momentum for auto retailers, demonstrating resilience in the face of affordability challenges, shifting policies, and a fast-changing demand landscape. Dealers navigating thi [...]

Lexus Performance and Valuation Outlook - Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® Lexus continued to distinguish itself as one of the most coveted franchises in automotive retail during Q3 2025. Sales increased 13.1 percent versus Q3 2024, building on an already strong performance last year and reinf [...]

Porsche Navigates a Challenging Transition Period - Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® Porsche faced meaningful headwinds in Q3 2025 as the brand worked through a complex transition across products, markets, and strategy. Sales declined 4.9% compared to Q3 2024, reflecting pressures that are being felt bo [...]

BMW Momentum Accelerates in Q3 2025 - Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® BMW delivered one of the strongest luxury brand performances in Q3 2025. Sales increased 24.0% year over year, ranking BMW second in Q3 sales growth overall and allowing the brand to reclaim the luxury sales crown from [...]

Mercedes-Benz Navigates a Transitional Year as Dealer Optimism Builds – Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® Mercedes-Benz experienced a challenging quarter in Q3 2025, with U.S. sales declining 11.8 percent compared to Q3 2024. Despite the near-term softness in volume, our discussions with dealers reveal a notable shift in se [...]

Toyota’s Enduring Strength and Dealer Confidence - Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® Toyota delivered a strong rebound in Q3 2025, with sales increasing 16.4% versus Q3 2024 after a comparatively weak performance last year. This recovery further reinforces Toyota’s position as one of the most sought-a [...]

Jaguar Land Rover Navigates Disruption While Preserving Franchise Value – Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® Jaguar Land Rover posted year over year sales growth in Q3 2025, but the quarter was defined more by operational disruption than by demand trends. For dealers and investors, the JLR franchise continues to demonstrate re [...]

Honda’s Resilient Franchise Model Holds Firm – Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® Honda delivered a measured performance in Q3 2025, with modest sales pressure offset by continued confidence among dealers. While year-over-year results showed a slight decline, the franchise’s core strengths remain i [...]

Subaru Dealership Performance Shows Resilience Amid Softer Sales – Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® Subaru sales declined 5.8 percent year over year in Q3 2025, reflecting softer new-vehicle demand across much of the industry. Despite this modest pullback, Subaru continues to outperform many peers on profitability and [...]

Kia Continues to Outperform as a Best-in-Class Midline Import Franchise – Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® Kia’s Position in the Market Kia delivered another strong quarter in Q3 2025, with sales rising 11.1% year over year. This performance underscores the brand’s ability to compete effectively in a price-sensitive [...]

Hyundai and Genesis Deliver Strong Sales but Dealer Sentiment Weakens – Insights from the Q3 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q3 2025 Haig Report® Strong Sales Momentum Continues Hyundai and Genesis posted combined sales growth of 12.7% in Q3 2025, extending a steady run of volume gains for both brands. Strong product offerings, particularly in crossovers, hyb [...]

Sell-Side Advisory for Franchised Dealership Owners: A Trusted Advisor Focused on Maximizing the Value of Your Life’s Work

A Reputation Built on Trust, Integrity, and Results Selling a business is one of the most significant decisions an owner will ever make, financially, professionally, and personally. Haig Partners is a highly respected and trusted advisor to owners of fr [...]

A Legacy Realized: Haig Partners Advises on the Sale of Santa Monica BMW in a Premier Luxury Market

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn.Want insider knowledge on the most up to date trends in auto retail? Subscribe to The Haig Report®. Haig Partners served as the exclusive sell-side advisor o [...]

Dealership Buy-Sell Update: Valuation and Trends - Insights from the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference

At the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference, Alan Haig, Founder and President of Haig Partners, delivered a comprehensive update on dealership valuations, buy-sell trends, and the forces shaping auto retail M&A in 2026 and beyond. For dealers w [...]

What Franchises to Buy in 2026 - Insights from the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference

At the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference, John Murphy, Managing Director of Strategic Advisory at Haig Partners, presented a rigorous, data-driven framework for evaluating which franchises are best positioned for investment in 2026. Rather than [...]

Economic and Automotive Outlook - Insights from the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference

At the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference, Erin Keating, Executive Analyst and Senior Director of Economics and Industry Insights at Cox Automotive, joined John Murphy to provide a comprehensive economic and automotive outlook for 2026 and beyond. [...]

Investment Thesis for Acquiring Honda Dealerships - Insights from the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference

At the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference, Daryl Bazemore, Assistant Vice President of Auto Sales Strategy at American Honda Motor Co., Inc., joined Jayson Crouch, Managing Director at Haig Partners, for a candid discussion on the investment case fo [...]

NADA 20 Group Panel: Best Ideas to Improve Dealership Profits - Insights from the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference

At the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference, Yossi Levi, Founder and CEO of Car Dealership Guy, joined Don South, longtime NADA 20 Group Manager, for a highly tactical discussion focused on one objective: improving dealership profitability in today’ [...]

Leveraging AI to Drive Higher Profits and Blue Sky Value - Insights from the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference

At the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference, Steve Greenfield, General Partner at Automotive Ventures, delivered a forward-looking and financially grounded perspective on how artificial intelligence can materially increase dealership profitability and [...]

How to Build a #1 Volume Dealership in the U.S. - Insights from the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference

At the Haig Partners Maximizing Value Conference, Rita Case, President and CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group, joined Alan Haig for a candid and energetic discussion on what it truly takes to build and sustain a number one volume dealership in the United St [...]

Q4 2025 Haig Report® Recap: Key Trends Shaping Dealership Values, Multiples, and the Road Ahead

The U.S. auto retail industry is entering 2026 from a position of strength. While dealership profits have normalized from the record highs of the pandemic era, demand for dealerships remains robust, values are still historically elevated, and the buy-se [...]

Q4 2025 Haig Report®: Haig Partners National Average Blue Sky Multiples

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report® Understanding dealership valuation trends is critical for operators, investors, and buyers navigating today’s evolving buy-sell market. In the Q4 2025 Haig Report®, we analyze national average blue sky multiples [...]

Auto Retail M&A Rebounds Strongly, Setting the Stage for 2026 - Insights from the Q4 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report® M&A Activity Surged in the Second Half of 2025 After a sluggish start, 2025 turned into a surprisingly active year for dealership buy-sell activity. The first quarter ranked among the weakest on record, bu [...]

Blue Sky Values Drift Higher as Dealership Profits Remain Resilient - Insights from the Q4 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report® A Modest Increase Signals Continued Strength Blue sky values for auto dealerships moved higher in 2025, reflecting the ongoing strength of dealership profitability and investor demand. The estimated average blue sk [...]

Q4 2025 Haig Report®: SAAR Stumbles Into 2026

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report®After a strong finish to 2025, the auto retail industry has entered 2026 with softer momentum. While last year demonstrated resilience across both OEMs and dealers, early indicators suggest a more uncertain path ahead [...]

Dealers Enter 2026 with Healthier Inventory Levels - Insights from the Q4 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report®As the industry transitions into 2026, one of the most important operational and financial drivers for dealership performance is in a far better position than it has been in years: inventory. After a period marked by ex [...]

Trends Shaping Auto Retail in 2026 - Insights from the Q4 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report®As dealers enter 2026, a range of economic forces are beginning to reshape the auto retail landscape. From a softening labor market and moderating inflation to shifting interest rate policy and potential trade disruptions, [...]

Q4 2025 Haig Report®: Luxury & Midline Import Brands Lead Sales Growth in 2025

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report®The automotive retail market posted a solid performance in 2025, with total sales rising 2.5% year-over-year. While overall growth was steady, the real story lies beneath the surface: luxury and midline import brands signi [...]

Q4 2025 Haig Report®: New Vehicle Affordability Trends and What They Mean for Dealers

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report®A Shift in Affordability Signals Opportunity and Risk New vehicle affordability began to improve in late 2025 and continued into early 2026, marking a notable shift after a period of sustained pressure on consumers. Acc [...]

Audi at a Crossroads: Valuation, Performance, and What Comes Next - Insights from the Q4 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report® Audi dealers are navigating one of the most challenging periods in the brand’s recent history. A combination of aging core models, slower product refresh cycles, and shifting strategy toward electrification has p [...]

Vehicle Pricing Divergence Across Brands - Insights from the Q4 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report® A New Era of Vehicle Pricing Since 2019, the automotive industry has undergone significant transformation. Supply chain disruptions, the rapid introduction of new technologies, and evolving trade regulations have a [...]

Q4 2025 Haig Report® - New Car Throughput: Winners & Losers Since 2019

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report® The Industry’s “Flight to Quality” Is Accelerating It is hard to recall another period when dealership consolidators have been this focused on high-throughput franchises and locations. Across the indus [...]

NY Automotive Forum 2026: What It Means for Dealers Today

The NY Automotive forum once again brought together the most influential leaders in auto retail to discuss where the industry is headed. This year’s conversations confirmed what we are seeing every day in the market: dealership M&A activity remains s [...]

Q4 2025 Haig Report®: New Vehicle Profits Slip as Market Normalizes

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report® New vehicle profitability continued to reset in 2025, with the industry working through a weaker second half of the year and a shifting economic backdrop. While margins declined again, the pace of erosion slowed meanin [...]

Used Vehicle Profits Hold Steady in a Tight Market - Insights from the Q4 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report® Stability in Used Vehicle Profits, Despite Ongoing Pressure The used vehicle market remained under pressure in 2025, yet profitability proved more resilient than many expected. Public dealership groups reported an a [...]

Toyota Dealership Sales: Why Experience Matters When Selling Your Life’s Work

Ownership of a Toyota dealership often represents decades of commitment, disciplined execution, and family stewardship. Toyota has built one of the strongest and most durable franchises in automotive retail thanks to excellent products and dealer-friendly [...]

Q4 2025 Haig Report®: Franchise Valuations Show Diverging Paths Across Brands

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report®Franchise values in auto retail are increasingly shaped by one core theme: consistency versus uncertainty. Across luxury, import, and domestic brands, we are seeing a clear separation between franchises that deliver dur [...]

F&I Profits Near Record Levels as Product Penetration Strengthens - Insights from the Q4 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report® F&I departments delivered one of the strongest performances in recent years, reinforcing their role as a critical profit center for dealerships. After a period of volatility, 2025 marked a clear return to form, wi [...]

Q4 2025 Haig Report®: Fixed Operations Gross Profit Rose in 2025

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report®Fixed operations once again proved to be a cornerstone of dealership profitability in 2025. While new and used vehicle margins faced pressure, parts and service departments delivered strong, steady growth, reinforcing [...]

Dealership Profits Rise Despite Challenging Conditions - Insights from the Q4 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report® The narrative heading into 2025 was clear: dealership profits were expected to decline further from post-pandemic highs. Instead, the industry delivered a modest but meaningful rebound. Publicly owned auto dealershi [...]

Reallocating Capital: Inside the Sale of Lexus of Westport, Toyota of Westport, and Audi Hawthorne

Stay current on dealership buy-sell insights - follow Haig Partners on LinkedIn.Want insider knowledge on the most up to date trends in auto retail? Subscribe to The Haig Report®. The team at Haig Partners has been involved in 34 transac [...]

Lexus Dealership Performance & Valuation Trends - Insights from the Q4 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report® Lexus Continues Record Sales Momentum Lexus continues to build on its strong foundation, with sales increasing 7.1% year-over-year and setting a second consecutive annual record. This follows a record 2024 and rein [...]

Strong Demand, Tighter Supply: What’s Ahead for Porsche Dealers - Insights from the Q4 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report®Porsche continues to hold a unique position in the U.S. auto retail landscape. While 2025 delivered record sales for Porsche Cars North America (PCNA), the road ahead presents a more nuanced outlook for dealers, shaped by [...]

Mercedes-Benz Dealership Performance and Outlook: Positioning for the Next Cycle - Insights from the Q4 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report® Mercedes-Benz dealers navigated a challenging 2025, with U.S. sales declining 5.4% year over year. This performance reflects broader pressure across luxury OEMs, as shifting consumer demand, product timing gaps, a [...]

BMW Dealership Performance and Valuation Outlook - Insights from the Q4 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report®BMW delivered another standout year in 2025, with sales rising 4.7% and marking the brand’s third consecutive annual sales record. This performance is particularly notable given ongoing tariff pressures and a broader nor [...]

Why Toyota Continues to Earn Strong Dealer Confidence - Insights from the Q4 2025 Haig Report®

Source: The Q4 2025 Haig Report® Toyota continues to solidify its position as the benchmark midline import brand in the U.S. automotive retail market. In 2025, Toyota sales increased 8.1% year-over-year, marking its fourth-highest annual total ever an [...]