A CAR dealership will start displaying family-oriented, outdoorsy cars after a $40 million deal.
The dealership previously sold several high-end Stellantis brands, but the Alabama-based shop will switch to another popular car company.
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Benchmark Automotive sold its dealership in May for $40 million, according to Alabama.com.
The dealership brand previously offered Maserati, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo vehicles from the lot since 2017.
Local officials said they were sad luxury car brands were leaving.
“We are sorry to see the Maserati and Alfa Romeo brands leaving our Irondale Auto Mall,” the city’s Mayor, James Stewart, told the publication.
Read More on Dealership Closed
Hallmark Group, a franchise owner of Subaru dealerships, purchased the 4.4-acre lot.
Subaru is a brand that builds all-wheel-drive vehicles, perfect for off-roading and outdoor adventures.
Stewart said he was “excited” about the brand’s entrance and said the cars will take advantage of the area’s natural adventures.
“With our natural assets in the Cahaba River and Ruffner Mountain, Irondale is a perfect fit for marketing Subaru’s brand to their target audience of outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, bikers, and families,” he added.
This is the second time Benchmark Automotive has sold a dealership with Stellantis cars in four years.
In 2020, the company sold a Birmingham, Alabama, dealership that sold Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram vehicles, the publication reported.
The Birmingham dealership sold for $6.7 million.
LINC UP
The U.S. Sun confirmed that another brand will slow down its slate of closures this year.
Lincoln announced in January that it hoped to close 100 stores by the end of the year. The plans would have left the brand with 400 locations by January 2025.
The company, part of the Ford brand, started a buy-back program, hoping to centralize its dealerships in luxury markets.
But sales for the brand’s modern SUVs spiked this year – Lincoln is on pace to outsell the past four years.
A spokesperson for the company confirmed to The U.S. Sun that the closure plans have changed.
Dealership Tips
Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:
- 1. Set your price: Ensure you’ve calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car’s loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance.
- 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in test driving before you reach the dealership.
- 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
- 4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot
- 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.
Source: Kelley Blue Book
A Lincoln spokesperson told The U.S. Sun that the company made “significant progress” shutting down locations in 2003 and would “continue to work together with our retailers to make sure we have the right representation in the top luxury markets.”
Now, the plan is to keep 450 dealerships open.
Lincoln is also opening 58 boutique dealerships, and they believe 23 dealers will open by the end of the year.
The company recently launched its new design of the 2025 Navigator, its flagship model.
The new Navigator is expected to reach sales floors in Spring 2025.
