St. Louis area car dealer Jim Butler Auto Group announced last week it had purchased Chevrolet dealership Carroll-Rehma Motors in Linn.
Carroll-Rehma Motors, a family-owned business, has served Mid-Missouri for 30 years, according to a news release. General Manager Mike Carroll and current dealership employees will remain on the staff, and the dealership's name will be changed to Jim Butler Linn Chevrolet.
"Our focus is to take this great dealership in Linn and expand its reach to sell and service the highest award trucks, SUVs and cars available in America," said Brad Sowers, co-owner of Jim Butler Auto Group, in the news release. "We will be doubling inventory so that we have the best selection of new and pre-owned vehicles in a 100-mile radius."
In addition to increasing inventory - beginning with trucks going into the winter months - Jim Butler Linn Chevrolet plans to look next spring at hiring to up its employee count by 20-30 percent over the previous year, Sowers said.
The new ownership also will expand financing services available to customers. "With our Fresh Start program, people that have bad credit - whether through a divorce or medical bills or a bankruptcy or job loss - we find a way to get them financed for a new Chevrolet," Sowers said, noting Jim Butler Auto Group has a relationship with 17 financial institutions to expand buyers' options.
The sale of the business is scheduled to close Nov. 2.
Jim Butler Auto Group owns five St. Louis area dealerships - Jim Butler Chevrolet, Jim Butler Kia, Jim Butler Auto Plaza, Jim Butler Maserati and Jim Butler FIAT - as well as Jim Butler Collision Center.
Sowers said he and Carroll have known each other for some time, and he is looking forward to working with the local team already in place.
"We've expanded quite a bit up here in St. Louis, and we were looking for expansion opportunities," Sowers said. "We've got a great team down there."
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