What Kunes Auto Group does

Kunes Auto Group is a family-owned automotive dealership group headquartered in Delavan, Wisconsin, founded in 1996. The company operates more than 40 retail rooftops across Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa, franchising new vehicles from major OEMs including Ford, GM, Chrysler/Ram/Jeep/Dodge, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC, alongside pre-owned inventory, parts, service, and finance & insurance products. With 2,000+ employees, Kunes has scaled from approximately 16 rooftops to over 40 within roughly seven years through an aggressive acquisition-led expansion strategy.

Beyond core auto retail, Kunes operates five specialty divisions that extend its addressable market: Kunes Performance (enthusiast and high-performance vehicles), Kunes Commercial (fleet and work-truck upfits), Kunes RV (recreational vehicles), Kunes Mobility (wheelchair-accessible and adaptive vehicles), and Kunes Auto Body (collision repair). Recent moves include acquisitions of Quietwoods RV, Scenic RV, Wisconsin RV World, and Valley GMC, the last of which marked entry into Minnesota as the group's fourth state.

Revenue is generated through multi-channel retail mechanics: new and used vehicle gross profit, F&I product attach, parts and service labor, commercial fleet sales, RV sales and service, mobility conversions, and collision repair. The customer base is highly distributed — individual retail consumers, small-business fleet buyers, and specialty buyers across Midwest markets. The group is community-rooted, family-governed, and operates without public-company disclosure; a February 2026 leadership transition appointed Tom Fohr as COO, professionalizing operations alongside continued acquisition activity.

Name

Kunes Auto Group

Legal name

Kunes Auto Group

Website

https://shopkunes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Kunes Auto Group is a family-owned, multi-brand automotive dealership group operating 40+ rooftops across Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa, selling new and used vehicles alongside five specialty divisions (Performance, Commercial, RV, Mobility, Auto Body) to retail, fleet, and specialty buyers in the Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Delavan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. New Vehicle Sales: Sale of new vehicles from multiple brands including Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Honda, Hyundai, Buick, Chrysler, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi. Revenue generated through one-time vehicle transactions with potential for ancillary product sales.
2. Used Vehicle Sales: Sale of pre-owned vehicles including SUVs, trucks, cars, and specialty vehicles like Teslas and mobility vans. Extensive pre-owned inventory with rigorous inspection standards.
3. Vehicle Financing Services: Finance and leasing services working with multiple lenders to help customers secure vehicle financing at competitive rates. Offers flexible financing options including buy, lease, and trade-in programs.
4. Service and Parts: Maintenance and repair services at each of the 28+ dealerships with certified technicians using genuine parts. Includes routine services (oil changes, tire rotations) and major repairs.
5. RV and Commercial Vehicle Sales: Sale of recreational vehicles, campers, and commercial vehicles through specialized divisions (KunesRV.com, KunesCommercial.com).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kunes Auto Group is a family-owned automotive dealership group operating over 40 locations across Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa. The company sells new and pre-owned vehicles across multiple OEM brands (Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Ram, Jeep, Dodge, Buick, Chrysler, Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Cadillac, Mitsubishi, Tesla) and provides in-house vehicle financing, trade-in services, and certified maintenance and repair. Specialty divisions extend the offering to mobility vans, performance vehicles, commercial vehicles, RVs and campers, and trailers.

Product overview

Kunes Auto Group is a family-owned automotive dealership group operating as a multi-brand dealership platform with over 28 locations across Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa. The core offering centers on new and used vehicle sales across multiple OEM brands (Ford, Ram, Jeep, GMC, Chevrolet, Dodge, Buick, Chrysler, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Toyota, Cadillac, Tesla). The portfolio includes specialty vehicle categories (Mobility Vans, Performance Vehicles, Commercial Vehicles, Hybrid & Electric, RVs & Campers, Trailers) and value-added services (Fresh Start Financing, CermaPlate ceramic coating, Product Support, Body Shops, Charge at Home). The company also operates community engagement programs like Kunes Car Convos podcast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kunes Performance: Performance vehicle dealership
• Kunes Commercial
• Kunes RV
• Kunes Mobility
• Kunes Toyota of Galesburg
• Kunes Family Foundation
• Kunes Auto Body
• Kunes Product Support

Products and services

• New Vehicle Sales Sale of new vehicles from multiple OEM brands including Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Honda, Hyundai, Buick, Chrysler, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi across Kunes dealerships in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa.
• Used Vehicle Sales Sale of pre-owned vehicles including SUVs, trucks, cars, and specialty vehicles such as Teslas, with rigorous inspection standards and trade-in support.
• Vehicle Financing and Leasing Finance and leasing services that work with multiple lenders to help customers secure vehicle financing, including buy, lease, and trade-in programs, plus the Fresh Start Financing program for credit-challenged buyers.
• Service and Parts Maintenance and repair services at each dealership's state-of-the-art service center staffed with certified technicians using genuine OEM parts, covering routine services (oil changes, tire rotations) through major repairs.
• Mobility Vans (Kunes Mobility) Wheelchair-accessible vans and mobility solutions for individuals with accessibility needs, offered in partnership with Vantage Mobility International.
• Performance Vehicles (Kunes Performance) High-performance vehicles available through the dedicated Kunes Performance dealership division.
• Commercial Vehicles (Kunes Commercial) Commercial trucks, work vehicles, and trailers for business and fleet customers, sold through the Kunes Commercial division.
• RVs & Campers (Kunes RV) Recreational vehicles and campers sold through the KunesRV.com division, with expanded inventory from acquisitions of Quietwoods RV, Scenic RV, and Wisconsin RV World.
• CermaPlate Graphene Ceramic Coating Proprietary graphene-infused ceramic coating service offering full body protection for vehicles, including UV block, glass protection, chrome protection, plastic molding protection, rubber trim protection, exceptional durability, hydrophobic finish, and super shine enhancement.
• Kunes Auto Body Collision and body shop repair services for vehicle customers, accessed through kunesautobody.com.
• Fresh Start Financing Special financing program designed for customers who are rebuilding credit and need pathways to vehicle ownership.
• Charge at Home Home EV charging solutions and support services for electric vehicle owners.
• Kunes Product Support Product support services for vehicle customers, accessed through the dedicated kunesproductsupport.com website.

Quantifiable outcome

• 280,000 meals delivered through Trade in Hunger program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SummerfestcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 June 2025Major sponsorship with Summerfest, featuring the return of Lasso Lounge for 2026. One of Milwaukee's largest music festivals.
• Jakob Junis (Milwaukee Brewers)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 April 2024Exciting partnership with Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jakob Junis for brand ambassador activities and community engagement.
• Vantage Mobility InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 December 2023Partnership for wheelchair-accessible mobility vans. Vantage Mobility creates top-notch wheelchair accessible vans that are offered through Kunes Mobility division. The collaboration enables Kunes to serve customers with accessibility needs.
• Lake County Tech CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2023Business partnership spotlight focusing on automotive technology education and workforce development. The partnership supports technical education programs and provides career pathway opportunities for students interested in automotive careers.
• Safe Families for Children of WisconsinminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 October 2023Kunes Family Foundation sponsorship of the 8th Annual Gala supporting family support services.
• Agape HouseminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 October 2023$5,000 sponsorship for Agape House fundraising event supporting their restoration ministry.
• Wisconsin Badgers BasketballminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 August 2023Partnership with UW-Madison Men's Basketball Stars including Chucky Hepburn, Isaac Lindsey, and Connor Essegian for promotional activities.
• NGAUS 2025 Governors BallminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 August 2023Sponsorship of the National Guard Association of the United States 2025 Governors Ball.
• Lukas Van Ness (Green Bay Packers)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 July 2023Exclusive appearance by Green Bay Packers player Lukas Van Ness at Kunes dealerships in Elkhorn, Wisconsin for fan engagement and promotional events.
• Pat Connaughton (Milwaukee Bucks)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 June 2023Meet and greet events with NBA Champion Pat Connaughton at Kunes Buick GMC of Oak Creek for fan engagement.
• Harley Davidson Homecoming 2023minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 June 2023Proud sponsor of Harley Davidson Homecoming 2023 celebrating 120 years of riding excellence.
• Big Balloon BuildminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 March 2023Presenting sponsorship of the Big Balloon Build community event in Lake Geneva.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bergstrom Automotive: Family-owned regional dealership group based in Wisconsin with multiple rooftop locations across the Midwest and a similar multi-brand franchise model. Direct competitor for both consumer vehicle sales and geographic territory.
• Russ Darrow Group: Wisconsin-headquartered family-owned dealership group operating multiple rooftops in the Midwest with multi-brand franchise representation. Directly comparable in business model, regional footprint, and family-led governance.
• Boucher Automotive Group: Wisconsin-based dealership group with multi-brand new and used vehicle operations across the Midwest. Comparable scale, regional focus, and family-owned operating model.
• Holzmann Automotive: Midwest dealership group operating across Wisconsin and Illinois with a similar multi-brand portfolio and family-led operating approach. Direct peer for Midwestern regional market share.
• Heiser Automotive Group: Wisconsin-based family-owned dealership group operating across multiple Midwest markets with a multi-brand franchise portfolio. Comparable scale and regional Midwest positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Lithia Motors: Largest US auto retailer with hundreds of rooftops across multiple states and an aggressive acquisition strategy targeting regional groups. Represents the dominant national consolidator competing for the same acquisition targets and customers.
• AutoNation: Largest US automotive retailer by revenue, operating hundreds of franchised dealerships across multiple states with extensive multi-brand representation. National-scale competitor with greater capital access.
• Penske Automotive Group: Global automotive and commercial truck retailer with a significant US dealership footprint. Represents a larger, publicly-traded operator competing in the broader franchised retail auto market.
• Group 1 Automotive: Large US and UK-based automotive retailer with a multi-brand dealership portfolio and an active acquisition strategy. Public peer that competes for regional dealership acquisitions.

Regional players

• Rydell Automotive Group: Multi-brand dealership group with operations across the Upper Midwest. Comparable in franchise mix and regional positioning though serving slightly different geographic sub-markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KunesAutoGroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@KunesAutoGroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/KunesAutoGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kunes-auto-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kunes Auto Group