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Today, we talk about the massive $1.34 Billion acquisition of The Herb Chambers Companies by Asbury Automotive. Plus, there still could be a path forward for Honda and Nissan’s merger, and Amazon is not doing well in the physical retail space.

Show Notes with links:

• One of the biggest dealership acquisitions in U.S. auto retail history is on the horizon as Asbury Automotive Group signs a definitive agreement to acquire The Herb Chambers Companies. This $1.34 billion deal includes 33 dealerships, 52 franchises, and three collision centers, adding to Asbury’s nationwide footprint.
  • The acquisition represents $2.9 billion in revenue in 2024, making it one of the most significant transactions in the industry.
  • Herb Chambers will retain ownership of Mercedes-Benz of Boston but will step into a Special Advisor role at Asbury.
  • The deal is expected to close late in Q2 2025, pending customary approvals.
  • Asbury’s CEO David Hult praised the move, saying, “Herb is an icon in Boston, and he has built a world-class organization.”
  • Herb Chambers reflected on the sale: “As I look back on the last 40 years in business, I do so with immense pride, and as I look forward, I will do so with great satisfaction knowing what we built together will be in trusted hands,”

• The possibility of Honda and Nissan merging to form the world’s fourth-largest automaker is back on the table—but with one major condition: Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida must step down, according to the Financial Times.
  • Talks to create a $60 billion company collapsed last week, deepening Nissan’s struggles amid hybrid shortages and Chinese competition.
  • Renault and Nissan’s board are reportedly pushing Uchida to exit, with informal discussions on his departure already underway.
  • Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe has ruled out a hostile takeover but is open to renewed negotiations under new Nissan leadership.
  • Mitsubishi shares jumped 8.6% on the news, as a Honda-Nissan deal would stabilize its position, reducing its dependence on Nissan.
  • Analyst Tatsuo Yoshida sees a potential Honda-Nissan partnership as a win-win, but warns that Nissan must first “get its act together.”

• Despite its dominance in e-commerce, Amazon continues to stumble in physical retail, as detailed in a Wall Street Journal report. From Amazon Go to Amazon Style, the company has repeatedly failed to make stores work, raising questions about its brick-and-mortar strategy.
  • Amazon Go now has just 16 stores, after cutting half its locations since 2023.
  • Amazon Books, Amazon 4-Star, and Amazon Style all shut down within the past three years.
  • "Just Walk Out" tech was removed from Amazon Fresh stores in April 2024, as customers preferred Dash Cart smart shopping carts instead.
  • Critics argue Amazon “doesn’t understand retail,” with poor

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

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