Ciocca Automotive boosted its already considerable presence in Pennsylvania with the acquisition of Apple Automotive Group from The Stewart Companies.

The deal includes Apple’s 10 franchised dealerships in York County, Pa., representing BMW, Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram, Honda, Nissan and Subaru, as well as two used vehicle stores and six collision centers.

Haig Partners, which represented the seller in the transaction, said Apple is believed to be the most valuable dealership group ever sold in Pennsylvania.

The additions push Ciocca’s holdings to 52 dealerships and 18 collision centers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, generating some $3 billion in annual revenue. The Allentown, Pa.-based dealer group was founded in 1970 by Gregg Ciocca, who remains its CEO.

“Ciocca Automotive is honored to steward the Apple Automotive legacy into the future,” Ciocca said in a news release. “We take seriously our responsibility to continue to deliver the same level of service excellence customers count on from Apple Automotive and look forward to championing the company’s continued efforts to support the communities it serves.”

Ciocca said Apple’s staff is “a good match for our business philosophy, which is based on a four-legged stool: employee satisfaction equals customer satisfaction plus manufacturer relationship equals success. It all starts with our associates.”

Haig said The Stewart Companies sold the dealerships in order to focus on expanding its building products, construction and real estate businesses.

“Since Apple Automotive’s founding in 1976, the company has been a leader in delivering exceptional service and quality across York County,” The Stewart Companies CEO David Stewart said. “We are grateful to have been a part of that legacy and honored to work alongside the incredible Apple team in service to customers and our community.

“Ciocca Automotive’s laser focus on the automotive industry, coupled with deeply held roots in our region and commitments to family business values and community, made them the ideal partner to guide Apple Automotive into the bright future ahead, with an assurance Apple’s team and customers would be well cared for.”

Honda, Acura dominate EPA’s list of ENERGY STAR dealerships

The Environmental Protection Agency announced its first ENERGY STAR certifications for vehicle dealerships, recognizing eight locations for using significantly less energy and contributing fewer greenhouse gas emissions than their peers.

Seven of those dealerships are Honda and Acura stores: Acura of Sherman Oaks (Calif.), Brandfon Honda in Branford, Conn., Coggin Honda Orlando, DCH Tustin Acura in Tustin, Calif., Island Honda in Kahului, Hawaii, Marin Acura in Corte Madera, Calif., and Thayer Honda in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Ventura Toyota, Ventura, Calif., also earned the certification.

“Reducing energy use in commercial buildings is an essential part of the transition to a clean energy economy,” EPA administrator Michael Regan said in a news release. “I congratulate these businesses for demonstrating the power of energy efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective way at auto dealerships across the country.”

In a news release, American Honda Motor Co. attributed its success in energy efficiency to its Honda and Acura Environmental Leadership Programs, established in 2011, which it said was the auto industry’s first programs focused on reducing the environmental impact of dealerships. These dealers continuously look for ways to reduce energy consumption year over year.

The company said its goal is to achieve carbon neutrality for all of its products and corporate activities by 2050.

“Honda has been working with our dealer partners for over a decade to support them in reducing energy and water consumption, and we applaud our Honda and Acura dealers for earning the first ENERGY STAR certifications for dealerships,” American Honda senior vice president of auto sales Mamadou Diallo said. “These Honda and Acura green dealers have set the standard for others to follow in establishing environmentally responsible dealership operations.”