Dealership deals continue to thrive despite the pandemic and slumping sales. 

Trade X says it will be making a “major splash” in the industry in the second quarter of this year with marketing campaigns in Canada and the United States, and will be active in conferences and events.

The program, called Drive Investment Partners (Drive-IP), will be financed by a consortium consisting of participating banks, active or retired dealer principals and Drive-IP, said DSMA CEO Farid Ahmad.

Texas, home of some of North America's largest and fastest-growing cities, is attracting acquisitions by retailers north of the border.

Policaro Group in the Greater Toronto Area launched Policaro Access, which sells vehicles three different ways through the assistance of an app. The Jack Carter Auto Group in Calgary created Carter Live Connect, which goes beyond what GM's Cadillac Live offers.

From head office to the sales front line, business leaders, such as Brian Fulton, apply their unique skill sets at dealer groups.

OpenRoad purchased a Honda and a Toyota store in November because Policaro was in the process of divesting itself of mass market automobiles to concentrate on luxury brands.

Headquartered in Brampton, just outside of Toronto, the Policaro Group began its strategic shift in late November when it privately sold separate Honda and Toyota dealerships to reduce its stores to four. Now, it's expanding in Kitchene-Waterloo, St. Catharines, Etobicoke and Brampton.

Kevin Kutschinski, Foundation’s president and CEO, says the company could have about 40 stores in Canada and the United States by the end of 2021 or early 2022.

The Ontario Government says it has no intentions of reinstituting rebates for electric vehicles, even though it recently committed $285 million toward Ford Motor Co.’s $1.8-billion plan to turn its Oakville, Ont., plant into an EV assembler.

In 1969, Braley acquired a machine company Orlick Industries, founded by Bill Orlick in 1947 in the west end of Hamilton, and began expanding the business. He used his success to eventually own three CFL franchises at one time or another.

Throughout his career, Roy Foss, a Toronto-area dealer, garnered numerous awards and accolades for his successes and innovations. But, he was most proud of mentoring many of today’s most prominent industry leaders, dealers and executives.

After 26 years with Mercedes-Benz, including the last 4½ as president and CEO of the manufacturer’s Canadian division, Brian Fulton has become a managing partner of one of its Toronto-area dealerships, owned by the Zanchin Automotive Group.

Herbert Stein joined the business shortly after his father, Morris, was awarded a dealership by General Motors in 1957 and opened Plaza Chevrolet in Toronto. He remained with the company as adviser until he was 90.

The new electric performance brand, owned by Volvo Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, debuts with an urban and online retail plan.