After a prolonged period of unprecedented activity, mergers and acquisitions in automotive retailing have slowed, and valuations and profits have cooled compared with the preceding go-go years. Nonetheless, the market remains active despite some challenges, particularly high interest rates. As retailers face these economic uncertainties, questions abound: Is it still a good time to buy or sell a dealership? Will the lag in consumer interest in electric vehicles have any impact? And what about the looming shadow of a shift to an agency model of auto retailing? For some insights, Automotive News Canada reached out to Farid Ahmad, the founder and CEO of Dealer Solutions Mergers and Acquisitions (DSMA).
