March 2026 brought a high-profile legal development in the Porsche world: a ** class-action lawsuit ** filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) and several dealerships, alleging that certain ** Porsche 911 ** models sold as used or certified pre-owned (CPO) were previously used as ** factory training vehicles ** without proper disclosure. The plaintiffs claim that these cars—often with low mileage and pristine condition—were subjected to **intensive driver training sessions** (including high-speed track work, repeated hard braking, and aggressive maneuvers) that could have caused **hidden mechanical stress**, accelerated component wear, or undetected damage not visible in standard inspections. The suit (case details emerging from court filings and Automotive News March 3 coverage) seeks damages and injunctive relief, arguing violation of consumer protection laws (e.g., California Unfair Competition Law , false ad...
Lithia Motors Buys Luxury Stores March 2026: Consolidation Trend Accelerating — Impact on African Import Chains
On **March 3, 2026**, Lithia & Driveway (NYSE: LAD)—one of the largest U.S. automotive retail groups—announced the acquisition of **two dealerships**: ** Toyota of Gallatin ** in Gallatin, Tennessee (a core-volume import store), and ** Mercedes-Benz of Medford ** in Medford, Oregon (a luxury Mercedes-Benz franchise). The Medford deal is especially symbolic: it's in Lithia's hometown (headquarters location), acquired from Lancaster County Motors (Chris Boland), and coincides with the company's 80th anniversary. These additions bring Lithia's year-to-date annualized U.S. revenue from acquisitions to **$225 million** (financed via existing balance sheet capacity), expanding its luxury footprint (Mercedes) and geographic reach (entry into the fast-growing Nashville market via Toyota). This follows Lithia's aggressive 2025–2026 M&A pace (e.g., multiple luxury buys in prior months, including Porsche Beverly Hills and Audi Santa Monica in late 2025 adding ~$450M ...