In a series of significant dealership transactions, two prominent auto retailers, ALM Automotive Group and Escude Automotive Group, expanded their presence in Georgia and South Carolina by acquiring domestic and import dealerships from larger groups.
ALM Automotive Group, which operates several new and used car dealerships across Georgia and South Carolina, purchased Nalley Chevrolet in Union City, Georgia, from Asbury Automotive Group, a publicly held auto retailer. The deal, which closed on August 5, 2024, marked a strategic acquisition for ALM Automotive as it continues to grow its footprint in the southeastern U.S.
Since the acquisition, the dealership has been renamed ALM Chevrolet South. Asbury, based in Duluth, Georgia, had listed $206.6 million worth of assets for sale as of June 30, including several franchised dealerships. It’s unclear whether Nalley Chevrolet was part of the originally slated divestments. However, Kerrigan Advisors, a dealership sell-side firm, represented Asbury in the transaction.
Meanwhile, Escude Automotive Group, led by majority owner Mark Escude II, acquired two South Carolina dealerships from Anderson Automotive Group on August 12, 2024. The newly acquired stores, Chevrolet of Easley and Fred Anderson Nissan of Greer have been renamed Escude Chevrolet of Easley and Escude Nissan of Greer, respectively.
These acquisitions are particularly significant as they mark Escude’s and his partner Russell Antici’s first foray into dealership ownership. The Easley Chevrolet and Greer Nissan stores were previously part of the MCE Automotive group, which Escude’s father sold to Anderson Automotive last August. Escude, who resides in upstate South Carolina, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity and indicated plans for further expansion without geographic limitations.
