South Haven Chevrolet Buick GMC is now part of the Betten Baker Auto Group headquartered in Muskegon, a group that is closing in on nearly 1,000 employees and nearly two dozen automobile dealerships in Michigan, and growing rapidly through acquisition.
Bryan Betten and Chris Baker closed the deal for the South Haven dealership and took possession earlier this week, on Tuesday. The new Betten Baker South Haven marks the 21st location in the burgeoning dealership group which now tops 900 employees and growing.
Last year alone Betten Baker acquired eight separate dealerships including Midland’s McArdle Buick GMC Cadillac, Alma Chevrolet Buick, Ithaca Chevrolet, Godfrey Chevrolet Buick in the northern Michigan community of Cadillac, and Kent City Ford which they are in the process of relocating to Coopersville where they also recently finished building a new Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram store. The Ford project in Coopersville is slated for an opening here in 2019.
When they acquired Kent City Ford Baker said, “We are excited for this next chapter in Betten Baker history. This is one of the biggest expansions we have done, something that will not only change our company, but the way people shop for decades to come.”
Betten Baker was first launched nearly 36 years ago in Muskegon, and in late 2017 co-owner Chris Baker set the stage for their aggressive acquisition drive when he told reporters in Grand Rapids, “We decided to double the size of the Betten Baker company.” They are certainly well on their way.
In announcing the South Haven acquisition, Baker said, “We are excited to roll into 2019 and continue to focus on growth and customer service.” Baker said that his company’s plans were to retain all employees at the South Haven dealership, rolling them into the Betten Baker family fold.
There are also Betten Baker Auto Group dealerships in the Michigan communities of Allegan, Twin Lake, Lowell, Grandville, Big Rapids and Ludington.
