Garber Automotive Group

What Garber Automotive Group does

Garber Automotive Group is a third-generation, family-owned automotive dealership organization headquartered in Saginaw, Michigan, operating 26 franchised dealerships across 6 states representing 17 automotive brands including Buick, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Nissan, Hyundai, Acura, Porsche, Audi, Volvo, Subaru, and Cadillac. Founded in 1907 by Guy S. Garber — making it the oldest family-owned Buick dealership in the United States — the group now generates over $1.3 billion in annual sales and employs more than 2,400 people, led by third-generation owner Richard J. Garber Jr. since 1980.

The business is vertically integrated across the vehicle ownership lifecycle. Beyond franchised new-vehicle retail, Garber operates RightWay Auto Sales, a chain of over 50 used-car dealerships across 6 states that has financed more than 50,000 subprime customers, and Gateway Financial Solutions, a subprime auto lender operating in 17 states with 25+ years of service. Service and parts revenue is captured through Safeway Auto Service (8 service centers) and franchise dealer service departments. A peripheral asset, the Saginaw Spirit Ontario Hockey League franchise, supports community brand-building.

Garber's go-to-market is a traditional direct-to-consumer franchise dealership model: customers purchase vehicles, financing, and service at physical retail locations, with subprime buyers served through RightWay and Gateway Financial. The group grows primarily through dealership acquisitions (most recently Hagen Ford in July 2024 and Grieger's CDJR Valparaiso in June 2026) and centralized corporate services at its Saginaw headquarters support operational scale across rooftops.

Name

Garber Automotive Group

Legal name

Garber Automotive Group

Website

https://garbercareers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Garber Automotive Group is a third-generation, family-owned U.S. franchised auto dealership operator founded in 1907, running 26 dealerships across 6 states with affiliated subprime used-car retail, lending, and service operations, generating over $1.3 billion in annual sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Retail

NAICS

Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers (441), Automobile Dealers (4411)

SIC

Retail-Auto Dealers & Gasoline Stations (5500)

akta.pro primary industry

New & Used Auto Purchase Loans (FSAKADAA)

Keywords

• Automotive retail
• New vehicle sales
• Used vehicle sales
• Subprime auto lending
• Vehicle service and parts

Headquarters

HQ city

Saginaw

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices22 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. New Vehicle Sales: Sale of new vehicles through franchise dealerships representing multiple automotive brands including Buick, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Nissan, Hyundai, Acura, Porsche, Audi, Volvo, Subaru, and Cadillac
2. Used Vehicle Sales: Sale of pre-owned vehicles through franchise dealerships and RightWay Auto Sales locations, including subprime financing options
3. Service and Parts: Vehicle maintenance, repairs, collision services, and parts sales through dealership service departments
4. Subprime Auto Lending: Gateway Financial Solutions provides auto loans to individuals with limited or challenging credit history, operating as a sub-prime lender with operations across 17-21 states
5. Franchise Fees and Dealer Services: Corporate headquarters provides administrative, marketing, and technological services to dealership locations

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Garber Automotive Group operates a network of franchised automotive dealerships selling new and used vehicles representing 17 brand franchises (including Buick, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Nissan, Hyundai, Acura, Porsche, Audi, Volvo, Subaru, Cadillac) across 26 locations in 6 U.S. states. The group also offers in-house vehicle service, parts and body shop repair, subprime auto financing through Gateway Financial Solutions, used-car sales with credit-challenged financing through RightWay Auto Sales, and operates the Saginaw Spirit OHL hockey franchise.

Product overview

Garber Automotive Group operates as a multi-state automotive dealership organization offering new and used vehicle sales, vehicle financing, and auto services. The core offering is Garber Automotive Group itself, representing 17 automotive franchises including Buick, Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Acura, Porsche, Audi, Volvo, Subaru, and Cadillac across 26 locations in six states. The portfolio includes RightWay Auto Sales for subprime used vehicle sales, Gateway Financial Solutions for subprime auto lending, Safeway Auto Service for maintenance and repair, and the Saginaw Spirit hockey franchise. The organization grosses over $1.3 billion in annual sales and employs over 2,400 people.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Garber Automotive Group (Franchised Dealership Network) Multi-state network of franchised new-vehicle dealerships selling vehicles from 17 brand franchises (including Buick, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Nissan, Hyundai, Acura, Porsche, Audi, Volvo, Subaru, and Cadillac) across 26 locations in 6 U.S. states, primarily serving individual vehicle buyers.
• RightWay Auto Sales Chain of 50+ used-car dealership locations across 6 states that specializes in helping customers get approved for quality vehicles regardless of their credit or financial situation; has helped over 50,000 customers get into vehicles.
• Gateway Financial Solutions Sub-prime lender specializing in auto loans for individuals with limited or challenging credit history, providing customers with greater financing options and a means to establish, build, or repair credit; over 25 years in service with operations in 17 states.
• Safeway Auto Service Auto service and repair center chain offering vehicle maintenance and repair services, with 8 service centers nationwide.
• Dealership Service and Parts Vehicle maintenance, repair, collision services, and parts sales provided through the service departments of Garber's franchised dealerships.
• Saginaw Spirit Ontario Hockey League (OHL) professional ice hockey franchise owned by Dick Garber, providing entertainment to the Greater Lakes Bay Region since 2003.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Performance Brokerage ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Performance Brokerage Services, North America's highest volume dealership brokerage firm, facilitated the sale of Grieger's Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Valparaiso, Indiana to Garber Automotive Group. The transaction marks Garber's 26th franchised dealership and second location in Indiana. The firm served as the exclusive sell-side advisor for the transaction representing the retirement of seller David Rodgers after nearly 40 years in business.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AutoNation: Largest US publicly traded automotive retailer (~300+ franchises across multiple states). Directly comparable to Garber in multi-brand franchised new-vehicle retail, used-vehicle sales, and finance arms, though significantly larger in scale.
• Lithia Motors: Largest US dealer group by revenue, with an aggressive acquisition-driven growth strategy across new and used vehicles plus captive financing (Driveway). Closest public analog to Garber's roll-up approach and integrated F&I model.
• Group 1 Automotive: Publicly traded multi-brand, multi-state franchised dealer group with US and UK operations plus captive F&I (Group 1 Financial Services). Highly comparable in franchise mix, geographic diversification, and integrated financing strategy.
• Asbury Automotive Group: Publicly traded franchised dealer group with significant Sunbelt presence plus used-vehicle and F&I operations (Total Care Auto, F&I Services). Comparable in multi-brand retail, services, and growth-through-acquisition profile.
• Sonic Automotive: Publicly traded dealer group operating franchised dealerships plus EchoPark used-vehicle stores and a captive F&I platform. Closely mirrors Garber's split between franchised new-car retail and standalone used-car subprime operations.
• Penske Automotive Group: Large publicly traded dealer group with diversified premium-brand franchises, commercial truck dealerships, and Penske Transportation Solutions. Comparable as a premium-brand-heavy franchised retailer, though at significantly larger scale.
• Hendrick Automotive Group: Largest privately held US dealer group with 140+ franchises across multiple states. Closest private peer to Garber in scale, multi-brand franchised strategy, and family/private ownership profile.
• Ken Garff Automotive Group: Large family-owned dealer group operating across the Western US with a similar mix of franchised dealerships and used-car operations. Directly comparable as a family-controlled multi-brand private dealer group.

Broad incumbents

• Berkshire Hathaway Automotive: Subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway operating one of the largest US dealer networks through acquired platforms (e.g., Van Tuyl). Operates in the same franchised retail and F&I space at materially larger scale with broader geographic reach.

Regional players

• Suburban Collection: Large family-owned dealer group headquartered in Michigan with franchised dealerships primarily across the Midwest. Closest geographic peer to Garber's Michigan-anchored footprint and a meaningful regional competitor for share of Michigan franchise sales.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/garber-automotive-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Garber Automotive Group