The 401 Group of Companies

What The 401 Group of Companies does

The 401 Group of Companies is a privately-held Canadian automotive and RV dealership group headquartered in Cambridge, Ontario, operating 40+ franchised dealership rooftops across Ontario, Manitoba, and Florida. The company sells new and pre-owned vehicles across multiple OEM brands (Mitsubishi, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Subaru, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia) plus RV and powerports product lines, with revenue generated through a combination of one-time vehicle sales, recurring service and maintenance, subprime financing via the 401 Auto Financing brand, trade-in transactions, and certified pre-owned programs. Its go-to-market is a traditional sales-led dealership model augmented by a multi-channel digital presence spanning content marketing, social media, and online inventory browsing, trade-in valuation, and financing pre-qualification tools.

The business operates a dedicated mergers and acquisitions function led by an Executive Vice President of M&A + Business Development, executing a programmatic buy-and-roll-up strategy targeting established dealership owners who wish to retain staff and community presence. Between early 2024 and mid-2026, the group completed at least nine dealership acquisitions, including the March 2026 acquisition of Dabadu, a Canadian AI technology company whose AI-powered CRM/XRM platform is now being integrated across the network. The group also signaled vertical diversification with plans to enter the hotel business and cross-border expansion into the United States through Florida-based Mitsubishi dealerships.

Ownership appears to be founder/management-controlled with no identified private equity, venture capital, or institutional investor backing in the source materials. Leadership includes Marty Saliba (Vice President of Franchise Operations) and Ted Lancaster (Executive Vice President of M&A + Business Development), with the company operating as a multi-brand retail platform supplemented by an affiliated charitable foundation (401 Foundation) and a dedicated M&A advisory offering to other dealership owners.

Name

The 401 Group of Companies

Legal name

401 Auto RV Canada Inc.

Website

https://401group.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The 401 Group of Companies is a privately-held Canadian automotive and RV dealership group operating 40+ franchised rooftops across Ontario, Manitoba, and Florida, selling multi-brand new and used vehicles and offering integrated financing, service, trade-in, and M&A advisory services to individual consumers and dealership sellers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Dealership Services

NAICS

Used Car Dealers (44112), Used Car Dealers (441120)

SIC

Retail-Auto Dealers & Gasoline Stations (5500)

akta.pro primary industry

New & Used Auto Purchase Loans (FSAKADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Vehicle Protection & Add-on Product Financing (Warranties, GAP, Service Plans) (FSAKADAL)

Keywords

• Automotive dealership services
• New and used vehicle sales
• RV and powersports retail
• Automotive financing solutions
• Dealership M&A advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vehicle Sales: Primary revenue from sales of new and pre-owned vehicles including cars, trucks, SUVs, RVs, and powersports across Ontario dealership network.
2. Automotive Financing: Financing services for vehicle purchases, including bad credit car loans, offering flexible payment solutions through the 401 Auto Financing brand.
3. Vehicle Service and Maintenance: Service department providing vehicle maintenance, repairs, software updates, and diagnostic services across all dealership locations.
4. Trade-in Services: Vehicle trade-in evaluation and purchase program allowing customers to sell or trade their current vehicles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The 401 Group of Companies sells new and pre-owned vehicles including cars, trucks, SUVs, RVs, and powersports vehicles through a network of 40+ franchised dealerships across Ontario, Manitoba, and the USA. The company provides integrated automotive financing (including subprime/bad credit loans) under the 401 Auto Financing brand, trade-in valuation, certified pre-owned programs, and vehicle service and maintenance. In 2026 it acquired Dabadu, adding an AI-powered CRM/XRM platform for in-house dealership operations automation.

Product overview

The 401 Group of Companies operates as a diversified automotive and RV dealership group offering a unified platform of vehicle sales and services. The core offering includes new and pre-owned vehicle sales (cars, RVs, powersports) supported by integrated financing, trade-in, and certified pre-owned programs. The company has recently expanded its technology portfolio through the acquisition of Dabadu's AI-powered CRM/XRM platform, which brings intelligent automation for dealership operations. Supplementary services include vehicle maintenance and repair, software update services, and mergers & acquisitions advisory for automotive dealers. The company operates over 40 dealership locations across Ontario, Manitoba, and the USA, with a foundation focused on community philanthropy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New and Pre-Owned Vehicle Sales Sale of new and pre-owned vehicles including cars, trucks, SUVs, RVs, and powersports vehicles across dealership locations in Ontario, Manitoba, and Florida, USA. Multi-brand offering covering Mitsubishi, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Subaru, GM, Honda, Hyundai, and Kia franchises.
• Vehicle Financing Services Automotive financing solutions operated under the 401 Auto Financing brand, including bad credit car loans, no credit car loans, subprime auto loans, and flexible financing options for vehicle purchases across Ontario and Florida dealership locations.
• Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Program Rigorous multi-point inspection and reconditioning program for pre-owned vehicles, offering extended warranty coverage, multi-point inspections, and additional benefits such as roadside assistance for added buyer confidence.
• Vehicle Service and Maintenance Service department providing vehicle maintenance, repairs, diagnostics, and software updates using factory-trained certified technicians and specialized diagnostic tools at each dealership location.
• Trade-In Services Vehicle trade-in assessment and valuation services allowing customers to obtain an online offer for their current vehicle and apply the value toward another vehicle from the dealership's inventory.
• Dealership Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory Growth strategy service assisting automotive dealership owners with selling their businesses through strategic acquisitions by The 401 Group, focusing on partnerships that retain staff, maintain community presence, and ensure successful ownership transitions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Streamlined buying process removes friction and traditional dealership hassles, getting customers behind the wheel faster
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Sunny MitsubishicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Grand opening of Sunny Mitsubishi in Jacksonville, Florida, expanding Florida presence.
• Windsor MitsubishicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Opening of Windsor Mitsubishi location, the group's fifth Mitsubishi store.
• DabaducoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2026Acquisition of Dabadu, a Canadian AI technology company specializing in automotive dealership infrastructure. The deal brings Dabadu's AI-powered CRM/XRM platform in-house, enabling The 401 Group to integrate cutting-edge technology across its dealership operations. Dabadu spent five years building AI solutions for the automotive industry before the acquisition.
• Fort Myers MitsubishicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2026Acquisition of Fort Myers Mitsubishi in Florida, marking expansion into the United States market.
• Farquhar Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-RamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2026Acquisition of Stellantis store in North Bay, described as 'connecting all the dots' in Northern Ontario dealership network.
• Mission MotorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2026Acquisition of Mission Motors in Wawa, Ontario, marking The 401 Group's entry into the GM market.
• Baywest Motors (Owen Sound)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2026Acquisition of three Owen Sound dealerships previously owned by Baywest Motors, expanding Ontario footprint.
• Subaru of North BaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 January 2026Acquisition of Subaru of North Bay, marking the group's second Subaru dealership and a significant milestone in its strategic expansion across Northern Ontario. Reinforces commitment to North Bay community with customer-first philosophy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Cox Automotive (Dealertrack): Cox Automotive provides software, financing, and marketplaces (Dealertrack, Manheim, Autotrader) that serve franchised dealers. As the operator of a competing dealer technology stack, it represents both an indirect competitor and a potential ecosystem partner to The 401 Group's Dabadu platform.

Broad incumbents

• CarMax: CarMax is the largest U.S. used-vehicle retailer with integrated captive financing. As a scaled buyer and financier of pre-owned vehicles, it represents the strategic end-state benchmark for The 401 Group's CPO program and captive lender.
• Sonic Automotive: Sonic Automotive operates franchised dealerships plus the EchoPark used-vehicle retail brand in the U.S. Its dual exposure to new franchise and used-car retail parallels The 401 Group's mix of new and pre-owned sales.
• Asbury Automotive Group: Asbury is a U.S.-listed, multi-brand franchised automotive dealership group with significant scale across the Sunbelt. Its franchise-based retail model and active M&A strategy make it a relevant scaled comparable, particularly for The 401 Group's Florida expansion.
• Penske Automotive Group: Penske Automotive is a global premium and luxury franchised dealer group operating in the U.S. and U.K. Its diversified brand portfolio and operational scale provide a benchmark for what a mature multi-brand dealer group can achieve.
• Group 1 Automotive: Group 1 Automotive is a large U.S./U.K. franchised auto retailer with multi-brand dealerships and a substantial captive finance arm. The combination of diversified franchise retail plus integrated financing closely mirrors The 401 Group's business mix.
• Lithia Motors: Lithia Motors is the largest U.S. franchised auto retailer, operating hundreds of stores across multiple brands and running an aggressive acquisition strategy. Its scale-driven, technology-enabled retail model parallels the trajectory The 401 Group is pursuing via Dabadu.

Direct peers

• AutoCanada: AutoCanada is a large Canadian multi-brand automotive dealership group operating across multiple provinces. It is the closest direct peer to The 401 Group, sharing the same franchise-based, multi-brand retail model and Canadian footprint, though at significantly larger scale.
• Dilawri Group: Dilawri is one of Canada's largest privately held automotive dealership groups with a multi-brand, multi-province footprint. It competes head-to-head with The 401 Group for franchise acquisitions and retail share in Ontario and other Canadian markets.

Emerging players

• Carvana: Carvana is a U.S. online used-car retailer with an integrated finance arm. While operating in a different channel, its tech-led used-vehicle retail and financing model is conceptually adjacent to the digital capabilities The 401 Group is building through Dabadu.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@The401GroupofCompanies
• Facebookfacebook.com/401Group
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/401-auto-rv-canada
• Instagraminstagram.com/401groupofcompanies
• TikToktiktok.com/@401groupofcompanies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A2 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The 401 Group of Companies