Two of Ohio’s top Lexus dealerships are under new ownership.

Ken Ganley Automotive Group has acquired Metro Lexus in Cleveland and Lexus of Akron-Canton — two of the Cleveland area’s three Lexus dealerships — from Ascent Automotive Group, according to Kerrigan Advisors, which represented the seller in the transaction.

The advisory firm said Metro Lexus ranks first and Lexus of Akron-Canton third among Ohio Lexus stores, and have combined to earn 44 Elite of Lexus awards.

The new additions are the first Lexus dealerships for Ken Ganley, which is also based in the Cleveland area. The group operates 61 franchises in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Florida.

Ascent Automotive Group has been part of Friedkin, a global family of brands in automotive, entertainment, hospitality, investments and sports, since 2004. According to the Friedkin website, Ascent is now down to three locations, all in the Las Vegas area.

Cronin adds Cincinnati-area Chevy dealership

Cronin Auto Group has acquired Hirlinger Chevrolet in West Harrison, Ind., from brothers Mike, Steve and Ted Hirlinger, according to the Tim Lamb Group, which brokered the deal.

The dealership in the Cincinnati area, which includes Southwest Ohio, Southern Indiana and Northern Kentucky, has been owned and operated by the Hirlinger family since 1979. It has been renamed Cronin Chevrolet.

“We are grateful for the relationships we have formed over the years,” Mike Hirlinger said. “While this chapter is closing for our family, the memories and experiences will always remain.”

With the acquisition, Cronin Auto Group now operates seven locations with eight franchises Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. It’s the group’s first Chevrolet store.

“We are thrilled to add Chevrolet to our lineup of brands and to grow our presence in the tri-state region,” president and CEO Patrick Cronin said. “The Hirlinger family has built an incredible reputation over the years and we look forward to building on that foundation while continuing to deliver the same level of service and community support customers have come to expect.”

VIP moves upriver with new acquisition

VIP Automotive Group is moving up — up the Hudson River, that is.

The dealership group has acquired Mid-Hudson Subaru in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., up the river from its eight locations on New York’s Long Island and one in New Jersey, from Chris Turner.

The sale was reported by The Presidio Group, which represented the seller in the deal.

VIP owner Joel Sporn said the acquisition expands “our already strong ties to the top-notch Subaru brand. Our team looks forward to building on the dealership’s strong reputation and investing in the facility to better serve our customers and the community.”

Presidio said VIP plans to expand the store’s service shop and parking capacity.

“It has been a privilege to serve the Wappingers Falls community for many years,” Turner said. “ confident Joel Sporn and VIP Automotive Group will continue to provide outstanding service to our customers and a rewarding workplace for our employees.”

Presidio said the sale was its third transaction this year involving a Subaru dealership, noting its Dealer Direction Survey showed the brand is among the industry’s most desirable.

“With the brand’s new-vehicle sales soaring over the past decade, demand is high among buyers for Subaru dealerships,” managing director Alex Watterson said.

Presidio Group president George Karolis said the dealership M&A market has gained momentum since a lull in the first quarter.

“Presidio is seeing a record number of engagements, and I’m fielding calls on a near-daily basis from dealers who are considering an exit or reevaluating their portfolios,” he said. “All signs point to continued robust activity in the buy-sell market for the remainder of the year and into 2026.”