ZT Automotive Enters Alabama Market
ZT Automotive has expanded to 13 dealerships and officially entered the Alabama market after completing a deal with Florida-based Greenway Automotive group.
The acquisition includes brands such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT. The dealerships are expected to generate over $195 million in annual revenues.
“ZT Automotive’s growth aligns with our strategic vision to expand our presence across the Southeast and diligently build a portfolio in areas where we’re poised for success,” said Taseer Badar, Chairman and CEO of ZT Corporate and CEO of ZT Automotive.
The dealerships, three in Florence and one in Tuscumbia, will rebrand to Singing River Toyota, Singing River Honda, Singing River Nissan, and Singing River Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT. This naming choice pays homage to the region’s rich musical and recording studio legacy.
ZT Automotive operates nine other dealerships in Texas, Florida and Georgia.
Paradise Motors Expands in Michigan
Paradise Motors in Lansing, MI, recently acquired two dealerships in Manistee County.
Manistee Chevrolet and Manistee Ford, previously owned by Barry Seymour, will now be known as Wyatt Chevrolet and Wyatt Ford. Jeff Braatz officially took over the dealerships on May 1.
Braatz said that staff for the two dealerships has been retained as wile “Barry … had been at the Ford store for 33 years, he was ready to hang up his cleats. But everybody will stay — same faces, just a different name.”
Manistee’s Ford dealership has been at the current location—U.S. 31 about four miles south of Manistee—since the 1960’s. Seymour Jr., acquired the Manistee Chevrolet dealership, then known as Yates Chevrolet, in 2015.
While maintaining continuity is a priority, Braatz said he is looking to increase inventory at the dealerships. To that end, he has been in talks with car manufacturers to introduce a wider range of new cars, including brands like Dodge Rams and Jeeps.
Fiskers Adds Two Dealers In California, One in New Jersey
Fisker announced the latest additions of dealers, with two new Fisker stores coming in California and one in New Jersey.
Newport Fisker in Orange County and Fisker of San Jose have come on board with the electric vehicle manufacturer in California, along with Belford Fisker in Belford, N.J. The company said the new dealerships will soon be operational, authorized to sell vehicles, and listed on fiskerinc.com.
Fisker now has signed agreements with 15 dealer partner locations and distributorships in the U.S. and its territories as part of its shift from direct sales to a dealership model.
Additionally, Fisker announced it has waived the $2,438 destination and handling fee on model year 2023 Fisker Ocean Extremes and Ultras in the U.S., and said the 2023 Sport trim level has sold out in the continental U.S. The fee waiver follows large price cuts announced in March on all 2023 Ocean trim levels in the U.S., including MSRP reductions of $24,000 on the Extreme, $18,000 on the Ultra and $14,000 in the sport.
GM Can End Franchise Agreement with South Jersey Dealer: Court
A longtime South Jersey auto dealer has lost his latest bid to keep its franchise agreement with General Motors.
Mall Chevrolet Inc. sued the Big 3 carmaker after GM said it planned to terminate its relationship with the Cherry Hill dealer in October 2018. Mall Chevrolet’s lawsuit sought to block GM’s actions, claiming they would violate New Jersey’s Franchise Practices Act.
GM argued the dealer had violated its franchise agreement by submitting dubious claims for warranty repairs worth more than $650,000.
A three-judge appeals court in Philadelphia upheld a lower court’s dismissal of Mall Chevrolet’s wrongful-termination claims. Its 30-page ruling, the court found Mall Chevrolet’s lawsuit provided “no genuine dispute of material fact,” and found the business “did submit false claims for warranty repairs.” An attorney for Mall Chevrolet said the firm “is disappointed and disagrees with the outcome” and “is fully exploring its options.”
Mall Chevrolet has held a Chevrolet franchise for the Camden area since 1986, operated by Charles W. Foulke III. The relationship came under scrutiny after GM in 2017 began a series of increasingly intensive reviews of warranty reimbursement claims submitted by Mall Chevrolet. According to the decision, GM found hundreds of questionable claims.
When GM demanded the return of its payments, Mall Chevrolet denied it had engaged in fraud.
