Magazine for the professional tire industry
Issue link: https://mtd.epubxp.com/i/567620
MTD September 2015 News/views Tire distributor and three dealers grow by acquisition A tire distributor and three dealers completed acquisitions in August 2015. They are U.S. AutoForce, Raben Holdings LLC, Jack Williams Tire Co. Inc. and Mavis Discount Tire. U.S. AutoForce buys South Dada Automotive U.S. AutoForce, a division of U.S. Venture Inc., purchased South Dade Automotive Inc. (SDA), a tire distributor and exporter based in Miami, Fla. The sale was completed on August 10, 2015. U.S. AutoForce gains four warehouses in Florida with the purchase. The warehouses are in Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Pompano Beach. With the Florida acquisition, U.S. AutoForce has 31 warehouse loca- tions and offers tires and automotive parts distribution in 20 states. Raben Holdings buys western Kentucky dealer Raben Holdings acquired the inventory and other non-real estate assets of Shelby's Wheel and Tire Inc. in Paducah, Ky. Shelby's sells and services passenger and light truck tires, primarily Michelin and associated brands, as well as Nexen and Doral tires. Shelby's was founded by Shelby Dunn and the Dunn family in 1985. Joe Goff, an employee, purchased the outlet a year later. Goff will man- age the Paducah store. Raben Tire operates 27 stores, two wholesale distribution centers, and three retreading facilities across fve Midwest- ern states. Jack Williams Tire buys 3 Lebzelter's outlets Jack Williams Tire has acquired three Lebzelter's Total Car Care stores operating in the Lancaster, Pa., area. The stores were purchased from majority owners C. Clair McCormick, president, and Daniel Miller, vice president, of Philip Lebzelter and Son Co., which does business as Lebzelter's Total Car Care. Lebzelter's Total Car Care was founded in 1854. Its N. Queen Street store in Lancaster is the world's oldest Goodyear dealership, accord- ing to the company. Jack Williams Tire has been Lebzelter's longtime wholesale supplier. Miller will continue with Jack Williams Tire to manage the Millersville location, alongside the rest of the Lebzelter team. Jack Williams Tire also plans to hire at least 12 more employees. Jack Williams Tire now has 34 tire and auto service centers in north- eastern and central Pennsylvania as well as 12 wholesale distribution centers in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. Mavis Discount Tire buys Somerset Tire Service Mavis Tire Supply Corp., which does business as Mavis Discount Tire, acquired Somerset Tire Service Inc. (STS), one of the largest tire retail chains in the U.S with 157 stores. The purchase brings Mavis' store count to 324 outlets. Based in Bridgewater, N.J., STS has 95 stores in New Jersey, 33 in Pennsylvania and 29 in New York. It also has six wholesale locations operated as "Banner Tire." Mavis Discount Tire now has 324 stores, nine wholesale locations and approximately 2,800 employees. Sullivan Tire awards students Sullivan Tire Co. Inc. awarded $1,000 scholarships to five college-bound students as part of its support to the Germantown Neighborhood Center and South Shore YMCA. Toyota chooses Wrangler Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. will supply Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar tires in size P265/70R16 for Toyota's off-road capable mid-size pickup, the 2016 Tacoma TRD Off-Road grade. Latin Expo has new president Linda Bassitt, formerly show director for the Latin Expo Group LLC, has been promoted to president. The company organizes the North American Tire & Retread Expo, Latin American and Caribbean Tyre Expo, Latin Auto Parts Expo and the Latin American Consumer Electronics Expo. Gus Lima remains CEO. Mazda chooses Yokohama Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.'s Avid S34 will be original equipment in P215/60R16 94H and P215/50R18 92V sizes for Mazda Motor Corp.'s new compact crossover SUV, the Mazda CX-3, in North America. Affinia Group is sold Affinia Group Inc. has agreed to be purchased by Mann+Hummel Group, a Ludwigsburg, Germany- based developer and producer of filtration solutions to original equipment and aftermarket customers in the automotive and industrial sectors. The Affinia Group manufactures Wix brand automotive filters. KYB sponsors contest KYB Americas Corp.'s "Win with KYB Sweepstakes" gives automotive service shop owners in the U.S. and Canada an opportunity to win over $50,000 in prizes, including a new 2016 Toyota Tundra Limited pickup truck. The contest runs through Sept. 30, 2015. Michelin buys wholesaler Groupe Michelin has acquired Meyer Lissendorf GmbH, a major tire wholesaler in Germany. bites 14