WARREN, Ohio – Toyota of Warren is now a member of the Rafih Auto Group, according to the firm that brokered the sale.
The Tim Lamb Group, the largest auto dealership sales and acquisitions firm in North America, said the sale of Toyota of Warren to Rafih marks the 120th dealership sold in Ohio by the firm.
The transaction closed April 28, 2025, according to a press release issued by the Lamb Group. The Warren dealership is the first Rafih Toyota dealership in the United States, according to the firm. Rafih Auto Group represents 30 automotive brands, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jeep, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Porsche and Toyota. The group currently operates 27 dealerships across Canada and the United States, with a growing presence in Michigan and Ohio.
The dealership, located at 2657 Niles-Cortland Road SE in Warren, will continue operating under Toyota of Warren. The sellers, Jim Whetstone, Joseph Marzullo and Tim Marburger of Jim Whetstone Auto Group, will now focus on their remaining dealerships in Ohio and New York.
“Our group has known Tim Lamb for almost twenty years. In fact, we purchased the first dealership Tim and his company sold back in 2007,” said Whetstone, owner of Jim Whetstone Auto Group. “I can’t think of another person I would trust to handle a transaction of this magnitude.”
Terms of the sale were not disclosed. According to data filed April 29 with the Trumbull County Auditor’s office, an affiliate of Rafih, R8 Motors Inc., purchased Toyota of Warren’s land and building for $4.6 million.
The 25,000-square-foot facility spans 5 acres and includes a showroom, a comprehensive parts and service center and 18 service stalls.
“This deal with Jim Whetstone Auto Group marks the 120th dealership we’ve sold in the state of Ohio,” said Tim Lamb, president and director of the firm’s Northeast Region. “It’s especially meaningful that the seller is a client we have been doing business with since we started the company in 2006. We are also excited to have Terry Rafih and his group as a valued client moving forward.”
As part of the acquisition, Rafih Auto Group will retain the current employees of Toyota of Warren, ensuring continuity for customers and staff alike.
