Agere Automotive Acquires BMW of Tri-Cities in First Dealership Acquisition

Landmark transaction launches Agere Motors’ luxury dealership portfolio as the company evaluates two additional acquisition opportunities for 2027

BELLEVUE, WA, UNITED STATES, September 3, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Agere Automotive Inc. today announced the acquisition of BMW of Tri-Cities, marking the company’s first completed dealership acquisition and the official launch of the Agere Motors dealership portfolio. Located at 955 Aaron Drive in Richland, Washington, BMW of Tri-Cities serves customers throughout the Tri-Cities region and Eastern Washington. The dealership offers new BMW vehicles, BMW Certified and pre-owned vehicles, financing, factory-authorized service and genuine BMW parts.

For Agere founder and CEO Kjell D. Schei, the acquisition represents the culmination of a lifetime in automotive retail and the beginning of a new chapter as a dealership owner. “This is much more than our first acquisition it is the realization of a vision built over nearly three decades in the automotive industry,” said Schei. “I grew up around a family dealership and have spent my career learning this business from the ground up. BMW of Tri-Cities gives us the opportunity to apply that experience as owners while preserving what the dealership’s employees, customers and community already value.”

Schei brings more than 29 years of automotive retail experience spanning nearly every level of dealership operations, from lot attendant to dealer principal, general manager, vice president of operations and partner. His career includes leadership positions with Barrier Motors, BMW of Bellevue, Porsche Bellevue and Porsche Irvine, where he developed a record of improving dealership performance, strengthening manufacturer relationships and building customer-focused teams. At Barrier Motors, Schei helped lead and expand a prominent family-owned luxury automotive group representing Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volvo. He later led BMW of Bellevue, helping establish it as one of the most successful BMW dealerships within its national dealer group. That history makes BMW of Tri-Cities a particularly meaningful first acquisition for Schei and Agere Automotive. “BMW has played an important role in my career, so beginning Agere’s ownership journey with BMW of Tri-Cities feels both personal and fitting,” Schei said. “We understand the brand, the expectations of luxury automotive customers and the importance of building a culture in which employees can succeed. Our responsibility now is to honor the dealership’s established foundation and invest in its next stage of growth.”

Agere Automotive was established to acquire and operate premier luxury dealerships while providing an owner-focused alternative to traditional dealership consolidation. Its strategy emphasizes preserving the people, culture, community relationships and operating strengths of each dealership it acquires.
Rather than imposing immediate, wholesale restructuring, Agere evaluates what has made a dealership successful and supports its employees with experienced leadership, operational resources and disciplined investment. “Dealerships are not simply collections of inventory, facilities and financial statements,” Schei said. “They are built on people, reputations, manufacturer relationships and decades of customer trust. Our model recognizes the value of that legacy. We want sellers to know that what they built will be respected, and we want employees and customers to feel confident about what comes next.”

Agere intends to build on BMW of Tri-Cities’ established presence with a continued focus on customer experience, employee development, operational excellence and long-term community involvement. Customers will continue to receive access to BMW’s complete vehicle lineup, pre-owned inventory, financing resources, factory-trained service and genuine BMW parts. The acquisition establishes the foundation for Agere’s long-term strategy to develop a premier network of luxury automotive dealerships. The company is currently evaluating two additional dealership acquisition opportunities for potential completion in 2027. Each opportunity remains subject to due diligence, manufacturer approval, definitive agreements and customary closing conditions. “We are building Agere thoughtfully, one relationship and one dealership at a time,” Schei said. “Our objective is not growth for the sake of growth. We are looking for exceptional dealerships, strong brands, committed employees and owners who care deeply about the future of the businesses they created.” The transaction also demonstrates Agere’s ability to move from concept to execution through a leadership team with experience in dealership operations, mergers and acquisitions, legal structuring and luxury automotive retail. “This first acquisition validates the model we created and establishes the operating foundation for Agere’s future,” Schei added. “We have an active pipeline, but we will remain disciplined. Every dealership that joins Agere must strengthen the organization while giving us a genuine opportunity to support its employees, customers and community.”

Jonas C Roeser
Agere Automotive
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