A Bellevue-based luxury car group has bought two Tri-Cities dealerships.

Agere Automotive, a newly established automotive business, has made its first two acquisitions, both in the Tri-Cities. Agere bought BMW of Tri-Cities and Audi Tri-Cities, both located on Aaron Drive in Richland.

“Our intention is to be a long-term owner and employer in the Tri-Cities. We are focused on retaining and developing employees, investing in the dealerships, strengthening the customer experience and building deeper relationships in the community,” said Kjell D. Schei, founder and CEO of Agere Automotive, in an email to the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business.

Each dealership will maintain its identity, manufacturer standards and customer experience. The two dealerships’ close proximity creates opportunities for shared expertise in financial management, digital marketing, customer retention, fixed operations and manufacturer relations, according to a press release from Agere.

“BMW and Audi have distinct identities, cultures and customers, and we intend to protect that,” Schei said in a release. “Our role is to create an ownership organization behind them that helps each dealership and its employees perform at the highest level.”

Financial terms of the business transaction were not disclosed.

However, public records indicate the company bought BMW of Tri-Cities’ 2.8 acres of land at 935 and 955 Aaron Drive for $10.4 million. The purchase included BMW of Tri-Cities’ more than 19,000-square-foot dealership building. The seller was Zenitram Properties IV LLC.

Zenitram Properties III LLC also was the owner of Audi Tri-Cities at 1125 Aaron Drive. Agere bought that 1.37 acres of land and 15,628-square-foot building for $5.6 million.

Schei said he founded Agere after nearly 30 years in automotive retail and the acquisitions have a personal connection. “BMW was my first car, and Audi was the first dealership brand I worked for at the beginning of my career,” he said in an email to the Journal.

The company currently has two additional dealership acquisitions in the works that would be completed in 2027, according to the release.