A CAR dealership in the US is “dissolving” after its new owners decided it could no longer sell two popular brands under the one roof.
The deal signals the end of an era for one firm in Illinois – while the fate of the ditched brand remains uncertain.
It was reported this week that the Sam Leman Auto Group, which recently acquired Sullivan-Parkhill Automotive, is cutting the Volvo brand loose.
Instead, the company will focus on selling luxury cars.
This will include brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet and Cadillac.
In the US, a second-hand top of the range Mercedes-Benz can cost up to $130,000.
A second-hand high-end Chevrolet can set you back about $100,000.
The cost of a second-hand Cadillac varies.
For example, a 2023 Cadillac XT6 is currently on the market for around $38,000 and a 2016 Escalade for about $23,500.
The fate of the Volvo brand at the newly acquired dealership remains uncertain following the deal..
The changes come after Sam Leman Auto Group took control of the Champaign-based dealership this week.
The group already owns a dealership close to the long-running business in Champaign, which it acquired following an acquisition deal.
Benji Leman, general manager at the new owners, told The News-Gazette that it "made more sense" for the group to concentrate on the Mercedes-Benz brand.
Benji also said Volvo’s sales expectancy was an issue.
He added that what the brand expected the new owners to sell in the market “was not enough, again, to justify that investment”.
The deal certainly makes sense – the group already owns a dealership on the other side of the road from Sullivan-Parkhill Automotive.
Benji said the two premises will be able to share resources.
He described the move as “exciting” and said the group “loves” Champaign.
The deal marks an another step in the expansion of the group.
It already owns dealerships in several other locations, including Bloomington and Morton.
Mercedes recently launched a new 4×4 vehicle which can rotate 360 degrees – just like a tank. 
The incredible motor will cost a staggering $206,000 and is designed to be a rival to the upcoming EV Range Rover. 
Mercedes’ battery-powered G-Wagen – also known as the G580 – boasts a top speed of 112mph, with 0-62mph in just 4.7 seconds. 
It weighs a staggering 3085kg, meaning it could breach the 3.5-ton weight limit if the driver loads it with 415kg of luggage. 
The G-Wagen was developed in the 1970s as a military vehicle known as the Wolf, inspired by a suggestion from the Shah of Iran.
The first civilian Mercedes Geländewagen was released in 1979 and become renowned for its military go-anywhere ability.
After a number of facelifts over the decades, Mercedes unveiled a ground-up redesign at the Detroit Auto Show 2018, with massive improvements in comfort and ride quality.
Since then it's been engineered as an EV, accepting a 116kWh lithium-icon NMC 12-cell battery pack which powers four motors.
© NEWS ENTERPRISES, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP

source