Plewis Automotive Group acquires Badlands Harley Davidson in Medicine Hat

Posted on 4 February 2022 by Prairie Post

Effective Tuesday, March 1, 2022, the Plewis Automotive Group Inc. has acquired Badlands Harley-Davidson, located in Medicine Hat, Alberta.  The transaction expands the offerings available through the Plewis Automotive group to include Harley-Davidson motorcycles, service, parts, accessories and MotorClothes®.

The dealership is being acquired from long-time owner/operators, Ivan Karsten and Wendy Karsten, who just celebrated their 25th anniversary as Harley-Davidson dealers.  While the dealership is changing hands, the business will continue to operate with name “Badlands Harley-Davidson” and will remain in its current location.  Ivan will continue to work with the Plewis Automotive Group at the business in his role as General Manager.

Ryan Plewis, Partner with the Plewis Automotive Group Inc., says “This is a very exciting announcement for us for multiple reasons.  As a Harley-Davidson enthusiast, I got to know Wendy and Ivan as a customer of the dealership first.  Being a family-owned and operated venture, it was clear to me that they shared many of the same values that we live by in our other businesses.  When the opportunity arose for us to purchase the store from the Karsten family, we knew it would be a great fit and are extremely happy that Ivan has agreed to push off retirement temporarily to help us get the store rolling. We look forward to working with the great staff already at the store and building relationships through our philosophy of community involvement throughout the market area.”  Mark Plewis, Partner, adds “Badlands Harley-Davidson is a great addition to our dealership family as it allows us to continue expanding both the variety of products and services we offer as well as expanding our presence into some new markets like Lethbridge and Brooks.  With Badlands, our market area will expand from east of Swift Current, Saskatchewan all the way to the British Columbia border.  We are really looking forward to getting to know the people in those new areas.”

With respect to the transition, Ivan had the following to say.  “Over the last 25 years, Wendy and I have made some great memories and even better friendships.  Selling a business that was such a big part of our lives was not a decision we made lightly and is, of course, bittersweet.  We are both really happy, though, to have a plan in place that will allow us to slow down and have a lot of trust that the Plewis family will continue to provide the high level of service and care our staff and customers have come to expect.”

Plewis Automotive Group Inc. is owned and operated by Ryan Plewis and Mark Plewis.  The Plewis family has a long history of business in Swift Current and area with their original dealership, Standard Motors, being run by four generations of the family and in continuous operation since 1910.  Their businesses have received numerous awards and accolades over the last number of years including, among others, the Swift Current Business Excellence Awards, “Large Business of the Year”, the Saskatchewan Business Excellence Awards, “Community Cornerstone Business” and the General Motors “President’s Club Award”.  The acquisition of Badlands Harley-Davidson brings their footprint to six dealerships in southwest Saskatchewan and southern Alberta including:

Standard Motors in Swift Current, SK

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