Sloane Automotive Group Buys BMW Dealership in Pennsylvania
Sloane Automotive Group recently purchased Daniels BMW and MINI from Gary and John Daniels, rebranded as BMW of Allentown and MINI of Allentown.
After 50 years in business, the brothers Gary and John Daniels decided to retire and sell in a deal brokered by the Tim Lamb Group. The Daniels family opened for business in 1962 as a Cadillac franchise dealership. In 1974, the BMW franchise was awarded to the Daniels family. It then expanded to include a Certified Collision Center and in 2010 a MINI franchise.
After the purchase of Daniels BMW and MINI, Philadelphia based Sloane now owns nine dealerships in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas. In addition to BMW and MINI Sloane Automotive brands include Toyota, Honda, Audi, and Porsche. Sloane Automotive Group is a family owned and operated dealer group, founded by Robert Sloane, and has been serving the automotive sales and services needs of southeastern Pennsylvania since 1970.
McFarland Ford Plans Expansion in New Hampshire
Three new car dealerships are proposed for Stratham, NH, by Exeter-based McFarland Ford.
Chris Lane, co-owner of McFarland, recently presented plans for the proposed dealerships to the planning board on Wednesday as part of a preliminary consultation. The proposal includes demolishing the 10,500-square-foot home and garden store to make way for a new 35,000-square-foot car dealership.
Lane said the new building would house McFarland Kia, currently located at 137 Lafayette Road in North Hampton. It will be situated on the right side of the 6.5-acre lot, with the left side designated for parking and a display lot for vehicles.
At the same meeting, McFarland Ford also unveiled plans to demolish their 10,356-square-foot used car dealership at 50 Portsmouth Ave. The nearly 10-acre lot would then accommodate two new car dealerships, totaling approximately 50,000 square feet.
One building will house McFarland Hyundai, currently located at 177 Lafayette Road in North Hampton, while the other will remain vacant for future use as a car dealership.
Iowa City Approves Moratorium on New Dealerships
The Sioux City council has passed a one-year moratorium on car lots in the city after data showed the numbers of dealerships has nearly double the number of car lots compared to similar cities.
The moratorium on dealerships and expansions of existing locations is in effect until January 10, 2026. The city’s planning and zoning department will be working to break dealerships into categories to better identify the different types of dealership operations.
“I am so tired of used car lots that cram so many cars and you can’t walk through. If you can’t address that in an ordinance, then we’re never going to have hope around here,” Mayor Bob Scott told the Sioux City Journal. “I know they’re going to get angry at me, but there’s just so many cars. Some way you’ve got to be able to control that.”
Councilwoman Julie Schoenherr thinks the moratorium is necessary as the investigation continues, seeing as “20 more car dealerships could open” within that time.
