Daniel Imbro, an analyst with Stephens Inc., said the Jardine Motors acquisition gives Lithia an opportunity to work with automakers and get familiar with the agency model.

“This should give them some expertise operating under that system that could better position them in the US if they ever were to come over here,” Imbro said.

DeBoer said exposure to the agency model adds a secondary benefit: getting early insights into how manufacturers and dealers can work together “to benefit the consumer.”

“We as an organization believe that a more seamless customer process and a more transparent process is better,” DeBoer