The Birchwood Automotive Group has acquired Funk’s Toyota in Steinbach, renaming it Steinbach Toyota. It’s the 24th dealership for Birchwood, the largest such group in Manitoba.
Steve Chipman, CEO of Birchwood, said the company is always on the lookout for such acquisitions — and this one made a lot of sense. “It’s an excellent opportunity,” he said Thursday. “We’re trying to grow our business and this was a logical place to go.”
Birchwood, which has concentrated most of its dealerships in the Birchwood Auto Park at the West Perimeter highway just north of Portage Avenue, already owns a dealership in Steinbach. It bought Steinbach Dodge in 2017.
“Toyota is a very attractive brand, Steinbach is a growing city, there’s a good staff there, good customer satisfaction and a nice customer base,” he said.
Peter and Betty Funk along with their sons Rick, Reg and Kelvin, the former owners of Funk’s Toyota, said they were happy with the deal.
“It has been an honour to serve the Steinbach community since 1976 as Funk’s Toyota. I’m confident that Birchwood Automotive Group, with their experience and reputation, will carry the business forward and continue to support the community as we have,” Rick Funk said.
Plans are to keep all former staff in place, company officials said.
Martin Cash
Reporter
Martin Cash is a business reporter/columnist who’s been on that beat for the Free Press since 1989. He’s a graduate of the University of Toronto and studied journalism at Ryerson (now Toronto Metropolitan University). Read more about Martin.
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