Performance Brokerage Services, North America’s highest volume dealership brokerage firm, is pleased to announce the sale of South Bay Volkswagen in National City, California from Rudy Erm to Manny Sedano of Sedano Automotive Group.
National City, home to South Bay Volkswagen for over three decades, has been an important part of automotive history since vehicle sales began to surge in the 1920s. The city was a well-known outpost for bootleggers during the prohibition era and became a popular stopover for Hollywood celebrities like Clark Gable. By 1955, multiple auto dealerships were thriving along a main road called National Avenue. These dealerships banded together to start advertising themselves as the “Mile of Cars”.
South Bay Volkswagen joined the Mile of Cars in 1990 under ownership of Rudy Erm, Sr. The dealership has been family owned since inception, and was taken over by Erm’s son, Rudy Erm, Jr., who has operated South Bay Volkswagen until its recent acquisition.
National City’s Mile of Cars currently has 11 active dealerships representing 17 auto brands and remains as one of the oldest and most successful auto rows in the United States. South Bay Volkswagen is the third Mile of Cars dealership sale facilitated by Performance Brokerage Services in the last three months, previously selling Frank Subaru and Frank Toyota to Dalton Corporation from Mexico.
Rudy Erm, President of South Bay Volkswagen commented, “I have been in the automotive business for over 40 years and have spent the last 32 years with my father operating South Bay Volkswagen, our only location. After my parents passed away a couple of years ago, I battled with selling the store. I lost all my drive to keep going. I had never sold a store and my emotions were running high. Then, I was introduced to Jason Stopnitzky. He guided me through every step of the buy/sell process. He listened to my concerns, my worries, and my expectations. Jason explained every detail and helped me understand the entire process. He immediately found me a buyer, and the whole process went very quickly and smoothly. Jason and his Partner, Jonathan Forgy, CPA, along with legal expert Les Chayo, are all very professional and are certainly among the best in the country. I highly recommend Jason and Performance Brokerage Services.”
Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of over 300 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. In 2022, the company consummated 92 transactions, marking a record-breaking year. Jason Stopnitzky, the exclusive agent for this transaction and Co-Founder of Performance Brokerage Services commented, “I want to personally congratulate Manny Sedano and the Sedano Automotive Group on their acquisition of South Bay Volkswagen on the famous Mile of Cars in National City, California. From the start of negotiations, Manny and his team conducted themselves as consummate professionals. They executed on every commitment made and worked quickly towards an expeditious close. Manny and his group are becoming a household name in the San Diego market and with the acquisition of this new store, Manny and his team will undoubtedly be the number 1 Volkswagen dealer in the county. I sincerely appreciate Manny, as well as his candor and professionalism over the last three months.”
Manny Sedano, President, founded Sedano Automotive Group in 2006. With the acquisition of South Bay Volkswagen, Sedano Auto Group currently operates five locations across San Diego County.
Sedano stated, “Jason Stopnitzky of Performance Brokerage Services and I have known each other for years and he kept a record of what I want to do here in San Diego. He offered me advice on how I should proceed with my business plans many times. One evening, out of the blue, he called me and said he had a store I would not be able to refuse, but I had to act quickly. He definitely showed up with the right store for me, and we were in escrow in less than a week! I am very pleased with the purchase of South Bay Volkswagen in National City and want to thank Jason for making it possible. I’d also like to thank Jonathan Forgy, CPA and Partner for Performance Brokerage Services, for his professional help. I wish the Erm family happy days into retirement.”
The dealership will remain at its current location at 3131 National City Boulevard in National City, California and will be renamed Volkswagen of National City.
Rudy Erm was represented by Edward J. Siegler of the Law Office of Edward J. Siegler, Esq. in Los Angeles, California.
Manny Sedano was represented by Les Chayo of Chayo Law in Beverly Hills, California.