Auto dealership expands out of Florida with acquisition

The Crown Automotive Group, one of the top 100 privately-held dealership groups in the United States, has acquired Kelly Subaru in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Terms of the acquisition weren’t disclosed.

The acquisition in the greater Chattanooga market extends St. Pete-based Crown’s footprint in the region, according to a statement, adding to a pair of Chrysler dealerships it operates there. The Subaru corporate office also approved Crown to operate in the Chattanooga area, as well as parts of Georgia and Alabama, the release states. Crown will operate with its current team including General Manager Steve Marlin and Fixed Operations Manager Desmond Hagan.

"We are very excited to have the Kelly team join Crown, this is a group of customer centric, passionate people that are like minded in supporting the community as we are at Crown,” Crown President and COO Jim Myers says in the release. “We’re excited to expand our presence in the Chattanooga area and continuing the growth of this dealership as an important part of our award winning group."

The Kelly family, which sold the dealership, has served the Chattanooga community for over 80 years, the release states. Tim Kelly, previous owner of Subaru Kelly, says the dealership has been a very special chapter in his life, and he’s looking forward to becoming a customer at Crown Subaru.

Crown Automotive, whose founder and chairman, Dwayne Hawkins, died Dec. 24, comprises 22 dealerships in three states, employing more than 1,100 people.