SALT LAKE CITY — Ken Garff Automotive Group announced that it has acquired Volkswagen SouthTowne in South Jordan, Utah, which will be renamed Ken Garff Volkswagen Southtowne.
“Volkswagen SouthTowne has an outstanding reputation in the Salt Lake Valley for its elite performance, employee culture and prime location,” said Brett Hopkins, CEO, Ken Garff. “When the opportunity to acquire the dealership arose, we immediately recognized the strong alignment between our organizations’ values and culture. We are excited to build upon the foundation Tom and Susan Watkins created, while continuing our commitment to exceptional customer service, employee development and doing business the R.I.G.H.T. way.”
The business was sold by Susan Watkins, who purchased the dealership alongside her late husband Tom Watkins in 1989. Susan’s father, Ray Stout, managed the Ken Garff Oldsmobile dealership many years ago and worked closely with Ken and Bob Garff.
“As we considered the future of Volkswagen SouthTowne, it was important to find an organization that would care for our employees and customers,” said Watkins. “As another family-owned organization, Ken Garff demonstrated a commitment to preserving the culture of the business while creating opportunities for our team.”
This acquisition is the first for the Ken Garff Automotive Group in 2026 and follows the purchase of Lexus of Murray and Lexus of Lindon in July 2025 from Asbury Automotive Group. The Volkswagen Southtowne transaction was brokered by David Ibarra of Live Ready® Dealer Exchange Brokering.
Ken Garff Automotive Group is the ninth largest dealership group in the country and the third largest privately owned, according to Automotive News. The group owns 71 dealerships in nine states.
For more information about Ken Garff Automotive Group, visit www.kengarff.com.
About Ken Garff Automotive Group
Known for his integrity and desire to constantly improve, Ken Garff himself found ways to help others with his startup business in 1932. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Garff Enterprises, the parent company of Ken Garff Automotive Group, employs over 5,500 professionals across its more than 71 dealerships in nine states, including Utah, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, Iowa and Texas. Visit kengarff.com.