Walser Automotive Group has acquired three Twin Cities dealerships in its largest acquisition to date, adding nearly 300 employees and bringing Ford back into the group’s portfolio after a 20-year absence.
The Bloomington, Minn.-based dealer group completed the purchase Sept. 23 of Freeway Ford in Bloomington, Metropolitan Ford in Eden Prairie and Suburban Chevrolet in Eden Prairie from the Grossman family.
The acquisition expands Walser’s presence in its home Twin Cities market and brings its Minnesota dealership count to 23. Across Minnesota, Illinois and Kansas, Walser now operates 38 dealership locations, according to recent industry coverage.
For Walser, the deal also marks the return of Ford to its portfolio. The group’s history with the brand dates back to 1968, but Ford has not been part of the Walser lineup for roughly two decades. Suburban Chevrolet becomes Walser’s second Chevrolet dealership in Minnesota.
The purchase price was not disclosed. Hennepin County records put the combined estimated market value of the three properties at about $24.1 million, although that figure represents the real estate and should not be treated as the transaction value for the dealerships themselves.
Walser CEO Andrew Walser called the acquisition a meaningful investment in the Twin Cities, citing the established dealership teams and the group’s familiarity with the market.
