BELLEVUE, Wash. — O’Brien Auto Group (OAG), the largest auto dealer in the Pacific Northwest, announced that it has purchased Bob Bridge Toyota Scion of Renton – one of the most-recognized businesses in Renton and a nine-time winner of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.’s President Award for outstanding sales and service.
While financial details were not made public, O’Brien confirmed that the deal formally closed this week and that the company has already begun operating as Toyota Scion of Renton. The company also announced that it expects to retain all existing employees while adding more jobs in 2012.
“Over the past 31 years, Mr. Bridge has built one of the most-respected dealerships in the country and been a great champion for the Renton community,” said Michael P. O’Brien, owner, O’Brien Auto Group. “We look forward to building on that tradition under the O’Brien brand and are committed to making a positive impact within the Renton community.”
Bridge, who plans to dedicate more of his time to philanthropic efforts, said that O’Brien’s history of community involvement was a key factor in his decision to sell.
“Over 30 of the nation’s most prominent auto retail organizations were interested in buying the dealership,” said Bridge. “With this type of interest I was able to select the best fit for the Renton community. It’s only by coincidence that the best auto retail organization to replace Bob Bridge was in Seattle. That was just amazing.”
The dealership, located at 150 SW 7th Street in Renton, includes a state of the art 63,000-square-foot showroom and on-site inventory of more than 500 new and used vehicles. As part of the purchase, O’Brien will also own and operate the dealership’s technologically advanced 20,000 square-foot service department that currently houses 44 car bays.
As a tangible demonstration of their commitment to the Renton community, Bridge and O’Brien each made donations this week to the Friends of Renton Schools program with Bridge donating $25,000 and O’Brien $25,500. The donations were part of an informal VIP luncheon held at Renton High School on February 28.
“We are extremely fortunate to have the support of these two men and their companies,” said Friends of Renton Schools Chair Pam Teal. “Mr. Bridge and Mr. O’Brien are two outstanding business people who understand the value of giving back to the community. The money they contributed this week will be put to use in the programs that have a proven track record of directly impacting the achievement of students in the Renton School District.”
O’Brien Auto Group is actively involved in all of the communities served by its dealerships and donates time and money to charities including Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club, Children’s Hospital and the Overlake Service League to name only a few.
Founded in 1986, O’Brien Auto Group is a privately-held company that owns and operates fourteen dealerships in Washington and Oregon. The company employs more than 600 people and had annual sales exceeding $500 million in 2011. More information on the company can be viewed online at www.obrienautogroup.com
