Advantage Toyota and Ball Toyota of Charleston Sold
Advantage Toyota and Ball Toyota of Charleston have been sold to Victory Automotive Group in a deal brokered by Haig Partners LLC.
Advantage Toyota, now called Victory Toyota of Barboursville, was owned by Shawn Ball and his brother David. Ball Toyota, now called Victory Toyota of Charleston, was owned by Shawn Ball. Victory, based in Canton, MI, is led by Jeff Cappo along with his sons Eric and Mike.
Advantage Toyota has been a top performing dealership in West Virginia, with more than 2,000 units sold over the past twelve months that made it among the highest-volume dealerships in the Central Atlantic Toyota Region. The stores combined operated on 15 acres with 97,500 square feet of showroom, service, and storage space.
Shawn Bell started in the used vehicle wholesale business, eventually building a significant company serving dozens of dealerships around the state before investing in L&S Toyota. Shawn Bell built that dealership into a highly profitable operation, which then funded the purchase of another dealership, Advantage Toyota. David Bell took an ownership position in the Advantage Toyota dealership and helped to build it into the highest-volume dealership in the area. After seeing their success, Toyota asked Shawn to acquire Toyota of Charleston, WV, which was struggling at the time. David Ball is now retired. Shawn Ball remains the owner of L&S Toyota, which he intends to retain for the next generation in his family.
Victory Automotive Group ranked 19th on Automotive News Top 150 dealership group list for 2023, with $2.3 billion in revenue from the sale of approximately 50,000 new and used vehicles. With the purchase of the two dealerships, Victory owns 55 dealerships in 11 states.
Bohn Brothers Automotive Group Sells Lafayette Dealership
New Orleans-based Bohn Brothers Automotive Group has sold its Audi Lafayette dealership to Community Auto Group, a premier Honda, Kia, and Toyota dealer based in Houston that is owned by Roger Elswick.
Bohn Brothers Automotive Group originated with the founding of the Bohn Motor Company by George W. Bohn in 1924 in New Orleans. Over the years, the group has expanded its footprint and today operates Audi New Orleans, Toyota of Slidell and Hyundai Genesis of Metairie.
Audi Lafayette is the top volume luxury dealership in Lafayette and has earned six consecutive years of Magna Society Elite status and six Magna Society awards. Bohm was advised by Kerrigan Advisors during the sale process.
ECD Automotive Design Enters Into a Strategic Relationship with One Drivers Club
ECD Automotive Design is set to debut its first retail presence through a strategic relationship with One Drivers Club in West Palm Beach, FL.
This collaboration positions ECD as a new, prestigious retailer at One Drivers Club’s luxury automotive destination, marking a significant expansion for ECD into retail and physical experiences for both companies. The 4,800-square-foot space near “Billionaire’s Row” will serve as both a shared clubhouse, sales showroom and an design center. This showroom will allow clients to personalize custom builds across ECD’s lineup—from Land Rover Defenders and Jaguar E-Types to Mustangs and Toyota FJs.
“This collaboration with One Drivers Club is a milestone for ECD,” said Tom Humble, Founder and Chief Experience Officer at ECD. “By establishing our first physical location, we’re elevating our sales experience, offering clients the chance to engage hands-on with our bespoke design process. This move aligns with our commitment to an end-to-end, concierge-level service that takes luxury car restoration to the next level.”
In addition to showcasing ECD’s custom design services, the shared showroom will host a curated display of One Drivers Club’s vehicle collection, blending ECD’s design-forward approach with One Drivers Club’s dedication to superior collection management. The collaboration opens up the potential for joint events and programs that deepen engagement and expand services for One Drivers Club’s Members and new ECD clients, locally and nationwide.
New York Auto Dealers Release 2024 Economic Impact Report
The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA) has released its 2024 Economic Impact Report, highlighting the significant and often overlooked contributions of Metro New York’s franchised new car and truck dealerships to the region’s economy. The report underscores the vital role these dealerships play in creating jobs, generating tax revenue, and supporting local communities through charitable giving.
Among the top takeaways from the report include local franchised dealerships in Metro New York support 67,300 jobs, comprised of 37,200 direct employees and 30,100 indirect employees; employees collectively earning $6.3 billion annually; dealers contribute $2.9 billion in state and local taxes, fueling essential public services; and the total economic impact from franchised new car and truck dealerships reaches $67.6 billion, underscoring the industry’s critical role in Metro New York’s economy.
“Metro New York’s auto dealers are more than car dealers; they are an integral part of the communities they serve, supporting local economies, creating jobs, and making meaningful contributions to a wide range of charitable causes,” said Mark Schienberg, president of GNYADA. “Their impact extends far beyond the showroom, touching countless lives across the region.”
