Temecula's John Hine Auto Dealerships Acquired By Hello Group

TEMECULA, CA — The John Hine name has been synonymous with Southern California auto dealerships for more than 60 years, but retirement has come.

Valencia-based Hello Auto Group announced Friday it acquired the company's last two SoCal locations — John Hine Mazda Temecula and John Hine Subaru Temecula. The deal was finalized Monday; the terms were not disclosed although a spokesperson for the company said the agreement included the businesses and the land.

The dealerships are in the process of being rebranded as Hello Mazda of Temecula and Hello Subaru of Temecula.

“John Hine and his dealerships have been mainstays in the Temecula community for years,” said Hello Auto President Karl Schmidt. “We look forward to carrying on the Hine tradition and growing the bond with the local automotive community. I’m positive we’ll continue the lasting connection John and team have made in Temecula ... .”

The Hine family set roots in the Temecula Valley Auto Mall on Ynez Road with the opening of its Mazda dealership in 2007; in 2013, John Hine Temecula Subaru began welcoming customers.

“I’ve known Karl for the better part of two decades," said John Hine Jr., president of John Hine Mazda and Subaru. “We are like-minded in our commitment to the customer experience and the belief that high levels of customer satisfaction can only be achieved through employee satisfaction.”

Hello Auto Group intends to maintain all employees at the Temecula locations and expand the team for future growth, company officials said.

The history of John Hine dealerships goes back further than Temecula. In 1942, John Hine Sr. opened the first John Hine Pontiac in Alton, Illinois. The business was moved to Dallas, Texas, in 1950 where it remained until its 1969 closure.

A second John Hine Pontiac was opened in 1957 on El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego before moving to the city's Mission Valley in 1965. In 1970, John Hine Mazda opened at the location. In 2010, the Pontiac business halted after General Motors discontinued the line.

John Hine Sr. died in 1996 at the age of 91, but the family persevered in the business.

In July, however, the Mission Valley John Hine Mazda location was acquired by Carvana for an undisclosed sum.

"We moved to Mission Valley back when there was still cattle and pastures and dairy farms,” John Hine Jr. told The San Diego Union-Tribune. “We’ve seen a lot of changes over the years.”

Hine told the news outlet he has worked at the family's dealerships for 50 years and a combination of factors led to the decision to sell the Mission Valley business.

Hello Auto Group officials admit their company is a relative newcomer to the California dealership community, but their strong leadership team that has "longstanding experience with the Subaru and Mazda brands" will help ensure success in Temecula, they said.

Hello Auto Group "prides itself on bringing a new, welcome approach to vehicle purchasing and ownership. It’s centered its processes around being upfront, seamless and devoid of the anxieties associated with auto dealerships," according to the company.