Sale of Inland Empire Toyota dealership underscores strength of the industry’s most in-demand franchise in California’s fastest growing region; transaction marks Kerrigan Advisors’ 264^th dealership and 31^st Toyota franchise sale

INCLINE VILLAGE, NV – May 22, 2024 – Kerrigan Advisors, the premier sell-side advisor and thought partner to auto dealers nationwide, represented California-based Gosch Auto Group in the sale of Gosch Toyota to Kevin Naderi. Gosch Toyota dealership is located in the Hemet Auto Mall, a high-volume, non-luxury car market in California’s fastest growing region, the Inland Empire. This transaction represents Kerrigan Advisors’ 264^th dealership and 348^th franchise sold since its founding.

“I want to congratulate the Gosch family and thank them for entrusting Kerrigan Advisors with the sale of this very high-value Toyota dealership in this fast growing market,” said Gabe Robleto, Senior Vice President, Sell-Side Advisory at Kerrigan Advisors. “It was a pleasure to support the Gosch family in this sale, which also marks our 31^st Toyota franchise sold since our firm’s founding.”

Gosch Auto Group, a family-run dealership group that currently owns auto dealerships in Hemet and Temecula, was founded in 1964 by Jack Gosch following his 11 years at the Ford Motor Company. He opened Gosch Ford in downtown Hemet just three months after the Ford Mustang was introduced. Recognizing the potential of the area, Jack joined with six other dealers and the city of Hemet to develop and build the Hemet Auto Mall in the mid-80s, shortly after his sons Eric and Marc joined the family business. Over the years, their team grew to more than 620 employees; collectively they have sold over 400,000 vehicles to local customers and serviced millions of cars.

“After 60 years of doing business in this incredible community, it was important to our family to transition the dealership to the right buyer for our valuable Toyota franchise, and we thank Kerrigan Advisors for helping us to do just that,” said Marc Gosch, Co-Owner of Gosch Auto Group. “In 1972, following the success we saw with our Ford dealership, we added Gosch Toyota to our group and over the years, we’ve created a long and successful relationship with Toyota. While it is difficult to part with a dealership that has been a part of our family for decades, we are pleased to continue serving the Hemet community with our Ford, Chevrolet and Hyundai brands.” 

"Having worked very successfully with Kerrigan Advisors previously, we knew we’d get the value and results in selling this desirable franchise. And, of importance, we knew that Kerrigan Advisors had a proven track record of maximizing franchise value,” said Eric Gosch, Co-Owner of Gosch Auto Group. “Not only did they ensure a smooth transition, the Kerrigan Advisors team displayed exemplary professionalism, expertise and guidance throughout our sale process, delivering results beyond our expectations.”

Toyota dominates the Inland Empire car market, capturing 24% market share in the non-luxury segment, exceeding California and US averages by 5% and 60%, respectively. Given its superior dealer-OEM relations, #1 ranking in trust, judicious approach to electric and hybrid vehicles, and high-volume business model, Toyota remains the most in-demand franchise in the industry, as evidenced by the success of this transaction.

“Toyota is in-demand in virtually every market, especially high-volume ones like the Inland Empire. We see very high buyer demand for the Toyota franchise nationwide, given dealers’ tremendous trust in the brand and the franchise’s high levels of profitability and earnings growth, which are the best in the business,” said Erin Kerrigan, Founder and Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. “It was such an honor to work with the Gosch family, whom I have known for well over a decade, and to bring this transaction to a successful and beneficial outcome for all involved parties.” 

About Kerrigan Advisors

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 over 260 dealerships representing more than $8 billion in client proceeds, including the third largest transaction in auto retail history – the sale of Jim Koons Automotive Companies to Asbury Automotive Group. 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 does not take listings, rather they develop a customized sales approach for each client to achieve their personal and financial goals. In addition to the firm’s sell-side advisory services, Kerrigan Advisors also provides a suite of consulting and investor services including growth strategy, market valuation assessments, capital allocation, transactional due diligence, open point proposals, operational improvement and real estate due diligence.

Kerrigan Advisors monitors conditions in the buy/sell market and publishes an in-depth analysis each quarter in The Blue Sky Report®, which 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 monthly The Kerrigan Index™ composed 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 2023 Kerrigan Dealer Survey, click here. To read the 2023 Kerrigan OEM Survey, click here. Kerrigan Advisors also is the co-author of NADA’s Guide to Buying and Selling a Dealership.

Kerrigan Advisors Media Contact:
Melanie Webber (melanie@mwebbcom.com), mWEBB Communications, 949-307-1723