Dealership group UpAuto has bought Easthill Volkswagen in Walkerton, Ont. because it continues to develop in non-metro markets throughout the province.

The Stratford, Ont.-based firm stated Jan. 9 that the dealership, which has operated within the city about 150 kilometres northwest of Toronto for greater than 60 years, will grow to be its fifth new-car location.

CEO Michael Carmichael stated UpAuto’s buy of its first Volkswagen retailer comes at an “vital inflection level for the business,” as automobiles go electrical and the German automaker rolls out its electrified ID household.

“With Volkswagen’s daring introduction of electrical automobiles, we’ll be offering the required investments required to develop our amenities and infrastructure and seize the chance to handle the rising demand for electrical automobiles,” he stated in a launch.

Easthill Volkswagen was beforehand owned by the Plaza Auto Group, based mostly in Toronto.

Monetary phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed.

The Volkswagen retailer will be a part of UpAuto’s present portfolio of 4 new-car dealerships, which embody Stratford Nissan, Stratford Subaru, St. Marys Buick GMC, and Hanover Honda, a location it acquired in September. The corporate additionally operates a used-car retailer in Stratford.