Kerrigan Advisors represented Birmingham, Alabama-based Tameron Automotive Group in the sale of Toyota of Newnan to AutoNation, marking a notable transaction in the Southeast dealership market and expanding AutoNation’s presence within the highly sought-after Toyota franchise network.
The dealership, owned by Tameron Automotive Group principals Danny Braden and Rob Gallik, was the market-leading Toyota store in Newnan, Georgia. The acquisition represents only the second Toyota dealership AutoNation has purchased in more than a decade, underscoring the continued scarcity and value of Toyota franchises in the automotive retail buy-sell market.
For Kerrigan Advisors, the transaction marks its 328th dealership sale since the firm’s founding, its 40th Toyota franchise sale since 2015 and its 157th franchise transaction in the South. Over the past 18 months, the firm has advised on dealership transactions representing more than $3 billion in revenue across 15 states.
“After building Toyota of Newnan into the market’s leading dealership, the time was right for our group to focus our attention and resources on Birmingham, Alabama, our home market,” said Danny Braden, co-owner of Tameron Automotive Group. “We are grateful for the steadfast guidance Kerrigan Advisors provided throughout this process and for their team’s unwavering focus on our financial and personal objectives.”
Toyota of Newnan holds an estimated 22% share of all new vehicle sales in its market and serves one of the largest Toyota Primary Market Areas in metro Atlanta. The dealership benefits from a favorable competitive position, with the nearest Toyota competitor located 19 miles away.
The acquisition also provides AutoNation with a stronger foothold in one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing economic regions. The Atlanta metropolitan area generates an estimated $571 billion economy and is home to 17 Fortune 500 headquarters. Newnan, located approximately 30 miles south of Atlanta, has experienced significant residential and commercial growth, creating favorable long-term conditions for automotive retail demand.
Import non-luxury vehicles account for 63% of new vehicle sales in the Newnan market, significantly exceeding the national average and reinforcing the area’s strength for brands such as Toyota.
“Danny and I benefited from Kerrigan Advisors’ market-leading expertise in selling top Toyota franchises and their dominance in the buy/sell market, particularly in the Southeast,” said Rob Gallik, co-owner of Tameron Automotive Group. “Their counsel was invaluable throughout the process.”
According to Kerrigan Advisors, the transaction reflects continued buyer demand for Toyota dealerships, which have consistently ranked among the highest-performing franchises in automotive retail. The firm noted that Toyota has maintained the highest sales per franchise among both luxury and non-luxury brands for more than two decades and currently averages approximately 31,000 units in operation per franchise, about 29% higher than its nearest competitor.
Those performance metrics continue to support elevated dealership valuations. In Kerrigan Advisors’ 2025 Dealer Survey, 86% of respondents reported a high level of trust in the Toyota franchise, while 42% of dealers expected Toyota blue sky values to increase further from current levels. The survey ranked Toyota as the most trusted non-luxury franchise and among the most desirable dealership investments in the market.
“Representing Tameron in the sale of one of the most valuable Toyota dealerships in Atlanta was a privilege,” said Gabe Robleto, director at Kerrigan Advisors. “Our mandate was to find a buyer with the scale to build on Tameron’s success in one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing suburbs.”
Erin Kerrigan, founder and managing director of Kerrigan Advisors, said the competitive process reflected the premium investors continue to place on top-performing Toyota stores in growth markets.
“The sale of Toyota of Newnan reflects buyers’ insatiable demand for Toyota franchises, particularly in high-growth markets like Newnan,” Kerrigan said. “In a metro growing as fast as Atlanta, a market-leading store like Toyota of Newnan drew intense competition, resulting in premium blue sky pricing.”
Legal counsel for Tameron Automotive Group was provided by Jeff Ingram of Ingram, Kalupa & Butler, P.C., while HHM served as the seller’s accountant. AutoNation was represented by Lance Phillips of Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP.
Founded in 2014, Kerrigan Advisors specializes exclusively in sell-side advisory services for automotive retailers. The firm has advised on the sale of more than 440 franchises generating over $10 billion in client proceeds and has participated in several of the industry’s largest dealership transactions.
Kerrigan Advisors is the leading sell-side advisor and thought partner to auto dealers nationwide. Since its founding in 2014, the firm has led the industry with the sale of more than 300 dealerships generating more than $10 billion in client proceeds, including two of the largest transactions in auto retail history – the sale of Jim Koons Automotive Companies to Asbury Automotive Group and Leith Automotive to Holman. The firm advises the industry’s leading dealership groups, enhancing value through the lifecycle of growing, operating and, when the time is right, selling their businesses. Led by a team of veteran industry experts with backgrounds in investment banking, private equity, accounting, finance and real estate, Kerrigan Advisors is the only firm in auto retail exclusively dedicated to sell-side advisory, providing its clients the assurance of a conflict-free approach.
Kerrigan Advisors monitors conditions in the buy/sell market and publishes an in-depth analysis each quarter in The Blue Sky Report®, the industry authority on dealership buy/sell market trends and valuations and includes Kerrigan Advisors’ signature blue sky charts, multiples and analysis for each franchise in the luxury and non-luxury segments. To download a preview of the report, click here. The firm also releases The Kerrigan Index™ comprised of the seven publicly traded auto retail companies with operations focused on the US market. The Kerrigan Auto Retail Index is designed to track dealership valuation trends, while also providing key insights into factors influencing auto retail. To access The Kerrigan Index™, click here. To read the 2024 Kerrigan Dealer Survey, click here. To read the 2025 Kerrigan OEM Survey, click here. Kerrigan Advisors also is the co-author of NADA’s Guide to Buying and Selling a Dealership.
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