Hyundai Motor America’s Global Dealership Space Identity initiative has reached a milestone.

The automaker announced more than half of its U.S. dealerships have completed the initiative’s facility upgrades, which it said reinforces its “commitment to improving customer experience and supporting its ever-growing dealer network.”

Launched in 2015 and refreshed in 2019, GDSI was created to reflect the brand’s “modern premium” values — caring, simple and creative — through a unified architectural and experiential standard for all retail locations designed to provide a “consistent, elevated dealership environment.”

“Dealerships that have adopted this voluntary initiative perform better, with higher profit, return on sales and service retention,” Hyundai Motor Company senior vice president and global director of network development Rob Grafton said. “Our vehicles have evolved dramatically in both design and quality and this ensures that our facilities and customer experience reflect that same transformation.”

Hyundai said 457 dealerships have completed renovations for far, with that number expected to rise to more than 60% of the brand’s 820-plus American stores by the end of the year.

Kirste brothers acquire New Hampshire’s Patriot Nissan

Brothers James and Erik Kirste have acquired Patriot Nissan in Salem, N.H., and its related real estate from Patriot Automotive Group owner Adam Arens, according to The Presidio Group, which represented the seller in the transaction.

Arens’ Patriot Automotive continues to operate three Subaru and Acura stores in Maine and Massachusetts.

The Kirste brothers previously operated Brattleboro Ford in Vermont.

“The acquisition of the Nissan store in Salem is a strategic investment for my family, and we greatly appreciate the professionalism and efficiency that Patriot Automotive and The Presidio Group brought to the table,” James Kirste said. “We look forward to serving the Salem community and working with the talented staff at the dealership.”

The Kirstes’ new dealership has been renamed Salem Nissan.