McLarty Automotive Group announces Arkansas acquisitions from Asbury Automotive

Little Rock-based McLarty Automotive Group (MAG) announced Tuesday (Dec. 13) the acquisition of five dealerships and two collision centers from Atlanta-based Asbury Automotive. The purchases include BMW of Little Rock, North Point Collision Center North, North Point Collision Center West, North Point Ford, North Point Lincoln, North Point Toyota and Volvo of Little Rock.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. With the closing, MAG has completed the purchase of Asbury Automotive’s holdings in the state and brought its annual revenues to more than $1.4 billion, according to a news release.

“We’re excited to announce this major expansion in our home market,” Mark McLarty, founder and chairman of McLarty Automotive Group, said in a statement. “These businesses have a special connection with our community and our family, and we believe they will benefit from being locally owned and operated.” 

Last year, MAG purchased four dealerships from Asbury Automotive, which have since been renamed McLarty Mazda, McLarty Nissan of Little Rock, McLarty Nissan of North Little Rock and McLarty Volkswagen. The current acquisitions will be known as BMW of Little Rock, Mark McLarty Ford, Mark McLarty Lincoln, Mark McLarty Toyota and McLarty Volvo Cars of Little Rock.

Founded in 2014, MAG made its first acquisition in Arkansas that same year, purchasing Bale Honda in Little Rock and renaming it McLarty Honda. In 2015, it acquired Frank Fletcher Honda, now Columbia Honda, and the Joe Machens dealership group in Columbia and Jefferson City, Mo.

The company is building a new McLarty Nissan dealership off Interstate 30 in Benton, with an expected opening date in 2017. 

MAG now operates 19 dealerships across the Mid-South and Midwest, representing BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, FIAT, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Lincoln, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Ram, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.