The Green Auto Group has purchased Kalispell Hyundai in Evergreen and renamed the dealership Green Hyundai.

Rob Green of Green Auto Group, which also owns Green Nissan and Mountain Auto & Marine in Evergreen, was in town this week to finalize the Hyundai acquisition from the Arnlund family.

“We’ve been successful in the Kalispell market and feel we can have the same opportunities here with Hyundai,” Green said.

Ricky Franks, who has worked for Green Auto Group’s Idaho dealerships for 10 years and is the manager of Green Nissan, will be the general manager overseeing both Green dealerships in Evergreen.

“Our philosophy is to take really good care of our customers,” Franks said.

Green Hyundai will increase its inventory of new cars and already has an expansive inventory of used models, Franks said.

“Hyundai quality has gone through the roof in technology, styling, safety and design,” he said. “They’ve really come to the table as a competitor. Both Nissan and Hyundai are growing their market share nationwide and we see us doing the same.”

Hyundai’s 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty is a drawing card to the brand, he added.

Although Hyundai is a foreign company — Hyundai Motor Co. is a multinational automaker headquartered in South Korea — the majority of its cars are built in America, Green pointed out.

In the Flathead Valley market, Hyundai’s Elantra and Sonata models are best sellers, along with SUV models such as the Santa Fe and Tucson. The Genesis, in Hyundai’s premium line-up, also is expected to do well here, Green said.

Green Auto Group owns 12 dealerships throughout the West and has more than three decades of experience in the car business.

Green Hyundai’s service department is one of the dealership’s biggest assets, Green said. Every new and used vehicle comes with a one-year free maintenance package.

“It all goes back to customer care,” Franks said. “We take the first year to show them what we’re really about.”

Green Hyundai is located at 2030 U.S. 2 E., near Kmart, and can be reached at 755-5274.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.