Sheboygan's Toyota, Subaru, Honda dealerships sold to Dahl Automotive
International Autos of Sheboygan sold the dealerships to a Wisconsin family
SHEBOYGAN — Three dealerships in Sheboygan have a new owner.
Dahl Automotive announced Tuesday morning the acquisition of three dealerships from International Autos including Toyota, Subaru and Honda. The dealerships are located near Interstate 43 and Highway 23 in Sheboygan. According to company representatives, Dahl Automotive has extended employment to all previous International Auto employees, and there will be no layoffs. Dahl expects to hire additional workers at the campus.
The new dealership names are Dahl Toyota Sheboygan, Dahl Subaru Sheboygan, and Dahl Honda Sheboygan.
“We are excited to welcome almost 60 new team members to the Dahl Automotive family,” said Andrew Dahl, President of Dahl Automotive. “This acquisition aligns with our growth strategy of entering midsize markets, partnering with great brands, and positively impacting the team, their families, and the Sheboygan community.”
With the acquisition in Sheboygan, Dahl re-enters the Eastern Wisconsin market which they last owned dealerships in the region from 1920 to 1939. Dahl further expands its partnership with all three brands bringing the total store count to four Honda, two Toyota and two Subaru dealerships. Dahl’s relationship with Subaru is the longest among the three dating back over 40 years to 1982. With the addition of the three locations in Sheboygan, the Dahl Automotive group grows to 14 dealerships in Minnesota and Wisconsin, representing 12 brands and employing over 600 workers. The family also operates the Dahl Auto Museum in La Crosse.
International Autos purchased the three Sheboygan dealerships in 2014. “Dahl Automotive is a family owned 114-year-old business that focuses on taking care of its team and customers,” said Ralph Mauro, CEO of International Autos. “Divesting these stores allows International to focus and further invest in our other core markets.” Another automotive group had eyed purchasing the Sheboygan dealerships but were ultimately unsuccessful.
Opened in 1991 as Süd’s Auto Mall
In March 1989, Gian Süd, who immigrated to the United States in 1958 from India1, purchased Sheboygan's Toyota dealership2 from Bob Werner. The purchase price was not disclosed and followed five months of Sud's controlling interest in the Mickelson Eagle-Subaru dealership, formerly located at North 15th Street and MacArtur Avenue. Werner had purchased the Toyota dealership in 1981, which was located at South Business Drive and Washington Avenue until it was sold to Sud in 1989. In June 1991, Sud's opened a 25,000-square-foot building at Interstate 43 and Highway 23. The dealership was built on four acres of land.
In November 2003, Süd announced he would semi-retire and named David Heather as partner. As part of the transition, the name of the dealership changed to Lakeland Auto. Heather had purchased a Fond du Lac dealership two months earlier. International Autos of West Allis reached an agreement to buy Lakeland Automotive in October 2014.
Holiday Inn motel proposed
Before Süd had purchased the land to build his dealerships in 1990, developers twice had proposed building a motel. In 1965, local realtor Richard Gottsacker was working with a client to build a motel complex on the six-acre site where the dealership campus is located today. In 1969, developers announced plans to build a 112-room motel with dining and convention facilities. In 1973, the Town of Sheboygan Board was concerned about the land being annexed into the City of Sheboygan.
The lack of sanitary sewer service in that area prevented the project from moving forward. At one point, developers were willing to construct a private sewage treatment plant to move ahead. The proposal was dropped in 1976 after a lengthy legal battle with the Town of Sheboygan.
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Sources
5 Things to Know About Gian Sud
United States Postal Lessors
Sud's dealership to become Autohaus
Journal Star