The Saunders family will be passing the keys to their Colwood-based Subaru dealership to The Jim Pattison Group on Monday.
The Saunders family, led by Bob and Norma, has successfully run the dealership on Island Highway for 36 years. This sale comes at the height of a third record year in a row, and will be finalized on Aug. 22. No price was disclosed for the sale.
Edie, Ruth and Dave Saunders will work with the new team, which will include the existing Saunders Subaru staff, to assist with the transition over the next few months.
"We want to thank Bob and Norma Saunders and the entire Saunders family for entrusting us with such an excellent business," said Bill Harbottle, president of The Jim Pattison Auto Group, in a release. “Our goal is to deliver a seamless transition for all Subaru owners here. We’ll continue the Saunders’ dedication to their customers and the community, and we look forward to maintaining and building on their tradition.”
But the Saunders family is isn't just known for selling cars. “In negotiating the sale, it was of the utmost importance that community initiatives like the Comfy Kids program where a courtesy Subaru Forester is made available for families in need of transportation to and from Vancouver for treatment at B.C. Children’s Hospital, and the use of the dealership’s sign by donation for community messages, with proceeds benefitting Help Fill a Dream, also continue,” Dave Saunders said in the same release.
The Jim Pattison Auto Group will own five Subaru locations in Western Canada with the acquisition of the Saunders dealership, making it the largest Subaru retailer in Canada. Both Harbottle and Ruth Saunders serve as members of the Subaru National Advisory Board in Canada.
More to come as this story develops.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com