One might be excused for not knowing that Columbia’s Kia of Columbia auto dealership changed ownership this fall to McLarty Automotive Group, which also controls all of the Joe Machens stores including Columbia Honda. However, the direction that this vehicle business is going is an even less well-known reality. To say that Matt McMahon, the new general manager of Kia of Columbia, is one of the best dreamers Columbia has to offer wouldn’t be an understatement.
It has been a long road to get here, says Matt. I started working in the auto industry in Wichita, Kansas, in 2009. I came across a man who asked if I wanted to try working harder to make a better livelihood while I was attending Wichita State University and working at Buckle, a popular clothes retailer in shopping malls. What? I asked. He responded, “Cars.” I commanded you to disregard it.
I started selling automobiles when I was 19 years old, and it was a great success, he claims. Matt sold automobiles with Joe Machens Nissan, Joe Machens Volkswagen, and Columbia Honda before accepting the general manager position with Kia of Columbia after finally transferring to MU and connecting with Machens.
“I received a call from the McLarty Automotive team [Machens’ ownership group] in the middle of October. Matt recollects them telling him, “Hey, we’re buying the Kia store and we’d like you to be the general manager to help us build that franchise.” “I felt flattered and honored. I made the decision to embark on this path and expand this franchise. Being here makes me happy. To get here, I’ve spent the last 11 years of my life.
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Who is Carson’s Kia’s owner?
In its recent sale of Carson Kiathe company’s highest volume Kia dealership in the United States since 2016to southern California-based Trophy Automotive Dealer Group, Kerrigan Advisors represented and counseled Car Pros Automotive Group (TADG).
The dealership’s brand-new, cutting-edge facility, which was opened in 2017 and is 72,000 square feet, is a flagship in OEM’s nationwide distribution network, according to Kerrigan Advisors. With this arrangement, TADG will have acquired its fifth dealership in recent years in southern California.
“Our family had to make a significant decision about this. According to Matthew Phillips, chief executive officer of Car Pros Automotive Group and the son of the company’s founder and chairman, Ken Phillips, “While we have no intention of leaving the auto industry, we felt that selling our large Kia store in Carson made sense, both for our family and for the strategic direction of the group.
Car Pros Automotive Group also has six dealerships in southern California and northwest Washington in addition to the Carson location.
More than any other retailer, the Phillips family has sold over 100,000 Kia vehicles in the United States.
According to company founder Ken Phillips, “I founded my first dealership in 1984 in Des Moines, Washington, on the principles of honesty and integrity. “As I reflect, we have adhered to those values in all we have done over the past 35 years.
Ken Phillips continued, “I am pleased to announce that our most recent transaction was handled in the same manner.
The skills we required to move our Group into the next stage of Car Pros automotive retail was greatly aided by Kerrigan Advisors.
“I would want to express my gratitude to Kerrigan Advisors for expertly leading us through this process. According to Matthew Phillips, they provide empathy, a thorough awareness of the present (and future) automotive landscape, and help at every stage. They actually comprehend everything a seller goes through.
The dealership is among Kia’s top sellers of certified pre-owned automobiles in addition to churning new metal.
According to Ryan Kerrigan, managing director of Kerrigan Advisors, “Ken and his family are the top Kia merchants in the United States and have been a significant part of that brand’s success on the West Coast, which is also one of the most demanding and cutting-edge automotive markets in the world. “In processing this deal, we put a lot of emphasis on that inventive attitude from the beginning. This is the pinnacle of the KIA brand, and we were pleased to give Carson Kia the appropriate representation.
We were honored to represent the Phillips family on this significant transaction, said Erin Kerrigan, managing director of Kerrigan Advisors.
She continued, “We have enjoyed working with the Phillips family to design their game plan for the next leg of their group’s expansion, as this is a milestone dealership in the Kia network.
We congratulate Trophy Automotive Dealer Group for expanding its list of Southern California stores to include Carson Kia.
Scali Rasmussen’s Gus Paras and Bert Rasmussen provided legal advice to the Car Pros Automotive Group. Trophy Automotive Dealer Group had legal representation from Aaron Jacoby of Arent Fox.
JTS Kia’s owner?
Jonathan and Andy, JT’s two kids, both work for the family business. JT and his family have enjoyed servicing their clients, and they anticipate continuing to do so for many years to come.
Is Kia a Hyundai property?
Some people consider Hyundai and Kia to be simply rebadged versions of the same cars. The two brands do have a close relationship, despite the fact that this is not the case. Hyundai acquired Kia in 1998 and now has a 51 percent share in the business. The two corporations are now regarded as sisters because that share has decreased to around a third.
Hyundai and Kia frequently use one another’s vehicle platforms as a result of their tight cooperation. Do the cars from both brands have the same engines?
Who created the new Kia logo?
Chief Design Officers Tom Kerns from Cadillac and Mr. Peter Schreyer from Volkswagen. The redesign of Kia’s production line was greatly aided by these two designers.
What country makes Kias?
Where are Kia automobiles made? While the majority of Kia’s production facilities are in South Korea, a few of the models you see here in the United States were made at North American factories.
Who manufactures Kia motors?
Hyundai and Kia produce their own engines, and a recent manufacturing fault may result in the premature death of more than 1 million of those engines.
For the same problem, Hyundai and Kia made separate recall announcements. About 572,000 examples of the 2013-2014 Santa Fe and 2013-2014 Sonata are included in Hyundai’s recall. About 618,160 units of the 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento, and 2011-2013 Sportage are included in Kia’s recall.
One of two enginesa 2.4-liter, direct-injected, naturally aspirated I4 or a 2.0-liter, turbocharged I4powers each of the involved vehicles. The motors’ various production dates range from 2010 to 2014.
The problem is due to manufacturing mistakes. It appears that metal debris in the crankshaft oil passageways wasn’t properly wiped out, and a second mistake led to surface roughness in the crankpins (crank journals). The connecting rod bearings, which enable the connecting rods to move freely, may receive less oil as a result of these two issues.
The engine may begin to knock as the bearing ages from contacting a rough surface without lubrication. The engine may seize up and be doomed to the scrap heap if the driver doesn’t understand what’s wrong and the bearings fail. If the engine seizes while the car is moving, it also poses a safety risk.
In May, notice will be given to dealers and owners, the latter by first-class mail. Owners must visit the dealership so that mechanics can examine and perhaps replace the engine. Owners who have previously paid for repairs must follow certain procedures in order to receive reimbursement from Hyundai or Kia.
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Is Kia up to par with Toyota?
According to a J.D. Power research from 2019, Kia has the highest initial quality in the non-premium segment in the United States. The 2016 Kia Soul, 2016 Toyota Corolla, Prius, and Prius V were all rated as being among the most dependable vehicles on the road by J.D. Power.
Who is the owner of Kia?
From what nation is Kia? South Korea would be that. The business was established in 1944 and started out as a bicycle factory, first producing bicycle parts before constructing Korea’s first domestic bicycle in 1951.
Why does Kia use two distinct logos?
Have you ever driven past a vehicle that vaguely resembled a Kia but didn’t have a Kia logo on it?
This is due to the fact that many Kia owners replace the factory-installed logo on their vehicles with a different one that closely resembles a Lexus emblem in an effort to conceal the fact that they are operating a Kia. Since Kia was once a low-cost brand in North America, it seems sense that some people might desire to conceal the genuine identity of their Kia.
With the release of its next grand tourer, the Stinger GT, a vehicle that elevates the brand and can satisfy enthusiasts, Kia intends to put an end to this trend. The Korean carmaker will be able to demonstrate its capabilities and overcome several barriers with the help of this vehicle.
Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning at Kia, stated, “We think we’re going to surprise a lot of people with this automobile. Hedrick claimed that the manufacturer has observed customers switching badges and has been inspired to create vehicles that owners can be proud of.