Go Auto has joined the running tally of Canadian dealership groups expanding into the United States.
The Edmonton-based company announced Jan. 31 it has acquired a joint Toyota and Mercedes-Benz dealership in Bellingham, Wash., a coastal city a few dozen kilometres south of the Canadian border.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Mercedes-Benz of Bellingham and Toyota of Bellingham, which share a rooftop in the city between Vancouver and Seattle, were previously owned by local dealer Al Monjazeb.
Go Auto said it is thrilled to make its “first foray” into the United States with the two high-profile brands.
The Canadian group has been an active buyer in recent months, though much of its business remains concentrated in Western Canada. It purchased four dealerships in two separate transactions in Alberta and British Columbia in October 2022.
At the time, Go Auto President Phil Abram told Automotive News Canada that the company was exploring other expansion opportunities across Canada and in the United States.
"This is just the beginning of our diversified and strategic growth plan as we look forward to further expanding our footprint in 2023," later said in a statement.
Go Auto now owns 50 new-vehicle dealerships in Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Ontario and Washington. It also has five used-vehicle stores in Western Canada, three RV dealerships in Alberta and a collision centre in Edmonton.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story understated the number of new-vehicle dealerships Go Auto owns. It owns 50.
