GB Auto grows to 164 stores with acquisitions in Phoenix, Houston

TUCSON, Ariz. — GB Auto Service Inc. has acquired Sun Devil Auto Service of Phoenix and Louetta Automotive & Tire Service of Houston, expanding its portfolio to 164 locations in four states.

Tucson-based GB Auto, the retail tire and auto service group owned by Greenbriar Equity Group L.P., closed the deal on Sun Devil Auto July 1 and on Louetta Automotive in the second quarter. Financial terms were not disclosed.

GB Auto said it has plans to add a dozen or more stores under the Sun Auto name, although it did not say in which market or markets.

Sun Devil Auto operates 32 auto repair shops, doing business as Sun Devil Auto in Arizona (20 stores) and Sun Auto Service in Nevada (eight stores) and Texas (four stores), while Louetta Automotive has 10 locations in the Houston area.

Sun Devil Auto currently does not offer tires as part of its service portfolio, but GB Auto in the past has added them to the mix at other businesses acquired.

Sun Devil Auto was founded by Joel Higginbotham in 1978. His son Tom was named president in 2005 after working at nearly every position in the company.

GB Auto CEO Frank Kneller called Sun Auto "one of the most recognizable brands in the Southwest," an achievement gained through "exceptional customer service and thoughtful business practices, establishing a culture we truly value and that fits well with our organization."

Greenbriar Equity is "looking forward to investing in Sun Auto's growth and continuing its terrific success, including with the addition of more than [a dozen] new greenfield locations in the very near future."

Tom Higginbotham said: "We are excited to partner with the GB Auto team to help further build out our collective platform – one that emphasizes community values, customer service, and ethics. This is a very exciting time for our organization and I look forward to remaining integrally involved during this next phase of growth."

GB Auto declined to elaborate on the Louetta Automotive acquisition, which was closed during the second quarter.

According to Louetta Properties, the business was founded in 1999 and grew to 11 locations throughout the greater Houston area. Louetta Automotive shops are full-service auto repair shops staffed by ASE master technicians.

With 164 locations, GB Auto is now considered the seventh largest independent retail tire/auto repair dealership in the U.S. These acquisitions move it ahead of Tire Discounters Inc., Belle Tire Distributors and Rent-A-Wheel/Rent-A-Tire on Tire Business' annual ranking of top dealerships.

Formed in 2017 by private equity group Greenbriar Equity, GB Auto has grown in three years to 164 stores from zero via nine acquisitions, and it said it is "entertaining acquisition discussions with operators who wish to preserve their companies' legacies while leveraging the benefits of shared resources and technology to grow their businesses."

The acquisitions started in 2017, with Brake Max Car Care Centers of Arizona.

That was followed by:

• Ramona Tire Inc. (17 stores in California);
• Tire Works Total Car Care (15 stores in Nevada);
• Evans Tire & Service Centers Inc. (17 stores in California);
• Lamb's Tire & Automotive Centers (18 stores in Texas);
• Driver's Edge Complete Tire & Automotive (11 stores in Texas); and
• Wilhelm Automotive & Tire (11 stores in Arizona).