Rafih Auto Group has acquired Toyota of Warren in Ohio, marking the group’s first Toyota dealership in the U.S., according to an announcement from Tim Lamb Group, which brokered the sale.
The dealership, previously owned by Jim Whetstone Auto Group, will continue operating under the Toyota of Warren name and will retain all current employees.
Rafih Auto Group, led by Chairman and CEO Terry Rafih, represents 30 global automotive brands including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Porsche and now Toyota. The group operates 27 dealership locations across the U.S. and Canada, with a growing focus in the Midwest.
The Warren facility spans more than 25,000 square feet on a 5-acre lot and includes a showroom, 18 service bays and a full-service parts and repair center. Toyota of Warren remains committed to using certified OEM Toyota parts and state-of-the-art service equipment.
“This deal with Jim Whetstone Auto Group marks the 120th dealership we’ve sold in the state of Ohio,” said Tim Lamb, president of Tim Lamb Group. “It’s especially meaningful that the seller is a client we have been doing business with since we started the company in 2006.”
The seller group, consisting of Jim Whetstone, Joseph Marzullo and Tim Marburger, will now concentrate on their remaining dealership holdings in Ohio and New York.
“Our group has known Tim Lamb for almost 20 years. In fact, we purchased the first dealership Tim and his company sold back in 2007,” said Whetstone. “I can’t think of another person I would trust to handle a transaction of this magnitude.”
The acquisition also marks the first transaction between Rafih Auto Group and Tim Lamb Group. “We are excited to have Terry Rafih and his group as a valued client moving forward,” said Lamb.
