In a significant shift in the New England automotive market, the Herb Chambers Companies, a familiar name in car sales across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, is set to change hands in a billion-dollar deal. NBC Boston reports that the Herb Chambers auto group, employing around 2,200 staff across the two states, is being acquired by Georgia-based Asbury Automotive Group for a hefty $1.34 billion price tag.

The impending transaction includes a spread of 33 dealerships, 52 franchises, and three collision centers that have been operating under the Herb Chambers name. Asbury Automotive Group's President and CEO David Hult expressed enthusiasm about the deal, saying, "We’re excited to bring Asbury and the Herb Chambers team together," emphasizing Chambers' status as "an icon in Boston" with a "world-class organization." These comments were obtained by Boston 25 News.

Herb Chambers himself, the namesake and principal of the companies, will transition to the role of a special advisor within Asbury while maintaining the ownership of the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Somerville. Chambers reflected on his four decades at the helm with pride and told Boston 25 News, "As I look forward, I will do so with great satisfaction knowing what we built together will be in trusted hands."

The transaction is currently pending standard closing conditions but is expected to be finalized in the latter half of the second quarter of 2025. Further details are anticipated as the closing date approaches and both the companies advance with one of the major consolidations in recent automotive retail history.