McGovern Auto Group has gone big into the collision repair space.

The dealership group, which operates 29 locations in Massachusetts, New York and New Hampshire, has opened a body shop it said is the largest in the Northeast and the largest dealer-owned collision center in the U.S.

MAG Collision Center in Shrewsbury, Mass., is a 75,000-square-foot facility with 40 repair bays that can accommodate any passenger or commercial vehicle, the company said. It also includes specialized zones for body repairs, paint prep, paint mixing, detailing and refinishing, as well as four downdraft-enabled paint booths and a separate paint system for fleet and commercial vehicles.

MAG said the facility represents a multimillion-dollar investment in auto repair that includes “next-generation equipment, materials and processes to truly optimize and modernize collision services.”

The MAG Collision Center is certified or pending certification with all of its dealership brands, including BMW, Audi, Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo and Ferrari, among others.

“Today is an important milestone, not just for McGovern Auto but also for every driver needing collision repairs or a fresh paint job,” CEO Matt McGovern said. “With considerable investment in infrastructure, technology, equipment and – most important – top talent, the MAG Collision Center raises the bar in terms of capacity, speed, quality and customer service. It also expands services for fleet and heavy-duty vehicles, including our own transport fleet.”

For fleet customers, the MAG Collision Center offers a dedicated 60-foot truck paint booth and prep deck to cater to heavy trucks, emergency vehicles, tractor trailers, dump trucks and equipment repair needs.

The center will also house McGovern Transport, McGovern’s transport and vehicle mobility division, and its fleet of 14 trucks.

MAG Collision Center general manager Brian D’Alesio said he plans to add to the collision center’s current staff of 30 employees, with 10 roles currently open for auto body technicians, paint technicians, estimators and customer service representatives.

Penske expands its retail operation into Australia

Penske Automotive Group has a new world to conquer. Well, a new continent, at least.

The automotive giant, which owns more than 500 dealerships worldwide, is bringing its retail automotive operations to Australia with the acquisition of two Porsche dealerships and a Ducati motorcycle store in Melbourne.

The company signed an agreement to acquire Porsche Centre Brighton, Porsche Centre Doncaster and Ducati Melbourne West. The Brighton dealership, about 20 minutes from central Melbourne, opened in March 2009. The Doncaster dealership is the newest official Porsche Centre, located in the northeast Melbourne suburbs.

“For more than 10 years, we have strategically built a diverse commercial vehicle and power systems business that operates across Australia and New Zealand, based on our commitment to strong customer service,” Penske head of international operations Randall Seymore said.

“With this acquisition we will leverage that existing infrastructure and our significant experience in the retail automotive industry to drive growth of the Porsche brand in Melbourne by building a relationship with Porsche enthusiasts through a focus on the customer experience.”