Car-Mart set to grow Texas footprint
America’s Car-Mart is poised to surge past a baker’s dozen of locations in the Lone Star State.
The company announced last week that it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase the dealership assets of Texas Auto Center (TAC).
According to a news release, the transaction — which excludes legacy finance receivables — is expected to close during the first quarter of Car-Mart’s 2025 fiscal year, which began on May 1.
Since founding Texas Auto Center in 1995, Car-Mart highlighted Bob and Erika Blankenship have grown their operation into an award-winning dealership group with locations in Austin and San Marcos, Texas.
“The acquisition of Texas Auto Center furthers our commitment to acquisitions being a part of our growth strategy. This acquisition will deliver exceptional outcomes for our customers, associates, and shareholders. TAC’s high-performance culture, customer focus, and strong alignment of values makes it a fantastic addition to what is an already great team,” Car-Mart president and CEI Douglas Campbell said in a news release.
“Bob and Erika are highly respected industry veterans with decades of experience delivering quality used vehicles and excellent service to their customers. We are excited to welcome them, and the entire Texas Auto Center team, to America’s Car-Mart,” Campbell continued.
Bob Blankenship explained why the couple left the independent dealership world to become part of Car-Mart’s network of dealerships that will include 14 in Texas and more than 150 overall.
“We are very excited to enter into this relationship,” Blankenship said in the news release. “My wife, Erika, and I have devoted nearly 30 years to building our business and have been honored to forge relationships with our customers. With the help of our dedicated associates, we have grown to two large dealerships, proudly serving the Austin metro area.
“America’s Car-Mart operates with integrity, respect, and compassion, making it the perfect fit for us,” Blankenship continued. “Together, we share a mission to earn repeat business by providing quality vehicles, stress-free financing, and excellent customer service. We are committed to the success of this transaction and to satisfying the car-buying and account servicing needs of our customers for generations to come.”
Car-Mart chief financial officer Vickie Judy added her perspectives on what this acquisition means for the company.
“This agreement reinforces our commitment to acquisitions as a part of our growth strategy that will not only strengthen America’s Car-Mart, but the entire industry. This acquisition expands and strengthens our footprint in the Texas market,” Judy said.
“We will continue to partner with experienced owner-operators to transition their businesses in a way that creates value for their customers and future growth opportunities for their associates as well as being accretive to our revenue,” she went on to say.