For a day, at least, the dealership buy-sell market is headed in one direction: North.

Performance Brokerage Services announced it has advised on the sale of dealerships in Montana and Canada as the week begins.

Minnesota-based Marthaler Automotive has acquired Honda of Helena in Helena, Mont. from Jim Parker.

Marthaler Automotive founder and president Aaron Marthaler began his career as a lube technician in Glenwood, Minn., before transitioning into sales and eventually owning a dealership. The company now operates 11 locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Montana.

Parker, whose father Doug began the family’s legacy in automotive with a dealership startup in 1983, retains ownership in Parker Ford Toyota in Helena, as well as Subaru and Toyota stores in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Active buyer sells Ontario dealership

One of the more active buyers in the recent North American M&A landscape was the seller in a Canadian deal announced by Performance Brokerage Services.

Go Auto sold Terrace Ford Lincoln in Burlington, Ontario, to the Richter and Scherle families, who have renamed the dealership Lakewest Ford Lincoln.

Edmonton-based Go Auto added three new stores in a span of two weeks in late May and early June. The group currently operates 67 dealerships in six Canadian provinces and Washington state in the U.S.

The acquisition brings together two automotive groups that combine “proven operational expertise with local market knowledge,” Performance Brokerage Services said.

The Richter Group, a third-generation company, operates three dealerships in Hamilton, Ont., including the city’s oldest Ford store, Eastgate Ford, founded in 1957. The Scherle Group owns three dealerships, including Nissan and Toyota stores in Burlington.

“David Scherle has built an impressive track record,” said Steve Allen, a partner in the brokerage company, “and teaming The Scherle Group up with The Richter Group — operators with clear vision and consistent values — sets this dealership up for exceptional growth.”

Group 1 Lexus store completes renovation

Lexus of Albuquerque is ready to reintroduce itself.

The New Mexico dealership will hold a grand reopening celebration Tuesday to unveil the results of a 20-month renovation project that owner Group 1 Automotive said included “ground-up construction.”

The festivities will include food, drink, entertainment and, of course, the newest Lexus models.

“From the moment guests drive up, they’re surrounded by a sleek and modern dealership with the amenities Lexus owners expect and deserve,” general manager Mont Porter said. “Everything from new speed doors that open up to an air-conditioned service drive-up, to solar-powered lot lighting, the addition of EV chargers and new landscaping, we’ve focused on creating a premium customer experience, and we invite our guests to come see it for themselves.”

Porter said the dealership’s previous 25-year-old facility no longer met the needs of customers and Lexus team members.

The renovation has doubled the number of service bays from 16 to 32, and provides space to hire more service technicians — Porter said he plans to expand that staff from 21 to 30. More than 17,000 square feet of space has been added for parts and service, including a car wash.

The showroom, decorated with Albuquerque city themes and southwestern colors, includes an upscale customer waiting area with complimentary drinks, snacks and wi-fi, Group 1 said. It can accommodate 22 salespeople and more cars.

Lexus of Albuquerque is making a $10,000 donation to Girls on the Run, a national nonprofit organization that believes physical activity-based positive youth development programs can enhance girls’ social, emotional, and physical skills and behaviors to navigate life experiences successfully. Group 1, which 258 dealership locations and 39 collision centers, said the donation is in its “tradition of giving back.”