A rapidly growing dealership group is growing again.

Kunes Auto & RV Group, based in Delavan, Wis., has moved into two new markets with the acquisition of three dealerships — two in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and one on Chicago’s upscale North Shore.

“These acquisitions represent major growth for us in two very exciting markets,” Kunes chief operating officer and managing director Scott Kunes said. “We’ve been eager to enter the Twin Cities market and strengthen our relationship with the Chicago North Shore community. Both acquisitions align perfectly with our commitment to putting people first and building lasting relationships.”

Kunes now operates 45 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, having grown from six locations in the past 12 years.

In Minnesota, Kunes purchased Valley GMC of Hastings in Hastings and Valley Buick GMC in Apple Valley — renamed Kunes Valley GMC and Kunes Apple Valley — from the family-owned Valley Automotive Group. The stores are Kunes’ first in Minnesota.

In a news release, Kunes said Valley Automotive, a family-run business, was seeking a buyer that would preserve its values and commitment to employees, and Kunes, as a fellow family-owned business, was “the right cultural fit.” Kunes said members of the previous owner’s family will continue to lead the Minnesota operations.

The acquisition of the Chevrolet Exchange in Lake Bluff, Ill., puts Kunes in the Chicago suburbs for the first time, the company said.

The dealership, rebranded as Kunes Lakes Chevrolet, is a high-end Chevrolet dealership that represents a homecoming of sorts for Kunes president Greg Kunes, a Chicago-area native. The location was acquired from Semersky Enterprises, which operates Audi and Porsche stores in the Chicago and St. Louis areas.

Kunes said it is working to keep existing staff in place at all three locations to support the transition and “continue the success these dealerships have achieved that made them attractive acquisitions.”

HGreg opens 6th Lux location

HGreg has expanded its pre-owned luxury car operation with the opening of its latest HGreg Lux dealership in Doral, Fla.

The new store is the sixth HGreg Lux location for the Quebec-based dealership group, joining Florida sites in Miami, West Palm Beach, Pompano Beach and Orlando, and one in Costa Mesa, Calif.

HGreg said Lux Doral features a curated selection of more than 125 luxury vehicles with a total value of more than $20 million, including high-performance and ultra-luxury models such as Porsche 911s, AMGs, Bentleys and high-line luxury SUVs.

“The opening of HGreg Lux Doral reflects our long-term vision for growth in South Florida and our dedication to delivering exceptional options and service in the luxury segment,” The company said in a news release. “This new location positions us to better serve local clients looking for premium vehicles with a seamless experience.”

HGreg said the new dealership replaces its former Doral location and reinforces its commitment to serving South Florida’s luxury automotive market with “an elevated buying and selling experience.”

The dealership will be led locally by Joe Coscarelli, Ferris Ahmad, Sari Maleh and Marlene Kevorkian.

Asbury adds new director to board

Asbury Automotive Group announced Christopher DiSantis will join its board of directors effective March 1. DiSantis, a partner with private equity firm American Securities, will serve on the board the audit and compensation and human resources committees.

Chairman Tom Reddin said the board expects DiSantis to provide “valuable strategic insights” regarding Asbury’s planning and operations.

“Chris brings an added dimension,” Asbury president and CEO David Hult said. “His value-creation experience demonstrated through repeated scaling, transformation and performance improvement across complex operating environments will make us a stronger organization.”

With new addition, the Asbury board consists of 11 directors, 10 of whom are independent.

DiSantis is a member of American Securities’ operating committee and leads the resources group, which assists its portfolio companies in value creation and the implementation of strategic agendas. Since joining American Securities in 2019, he has served in interim leadership roles for several of its companies.

DiSantis has previously been CEO of Verso Corporation, H-D Advanced Manufacturing and Latrobe Specialty Metals, and president of Hawk Corporation.

The company also said longtime board member Philip Maritz will not stand for re-election. His term will end at the company’s 2026 annual stockholders meeting. Maritz has been a board member since 2002 and has served as chair of the audit, risk management, and governance and nominating committees. He currently is a member of the capital allocation and risk management, governance and nominating and executive committees.

Hult said Maritz was instrumental in guiding Asbury from its initial public offering to a Fortune 500 company operating more than 170 dealership locations in 15 states and generating $18 billion in revenue. He noted Asbury has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Most Successful Small-Cap Companies and by Newsweek as one of the World’s Most Trustworthy Companies.

“I am proud of what the board has accomplished over the past two decades, and thankful to have been a part of that equation,” Maritz said. “I have every confidence that Asbury’s board and management team are well positioned to continue the company’s mission to be the nation’s most guest-centric automotive retailer. I wish my friends and colleagues at Asbury continued success.”