History
The Murray Auto Group Story
The Murray Auto Group has been in the automotive business since 1926 and has since grown to operate numerous Canadian dealerships from coast to coast. Employing over 1000 professionals, the company is owned and operated both by 3rd generation Murray's along side those who have worked their way to become partners. The dealers within the Murray Auto Group are very active within their communities where "Our Reputation is Your Guarantee" . Historic Timeline of the Murray Group
- 1900
1926
A Tradition of Service
In 1926 in Souris Manitoba, A.A. (Andy) Murray began to sell Star, Essex and Hudson cars from his implement business, expanding into the General Motors line in 1934. Today, that one dealership has expanded across much of Canada. The Murray Auto Group now consists of numerous dealerships from coast to coast.
1926
Souris, Manitoba
Souris, Manitoba was like any other small prairie town back in the roaring '20s and a Souris Saturday night was like any small-town Saturday night. The streets would come alive as every farm family for miles around would make the trip into town to do their shopping and socializing for the week. Starting in 1926, there was a new hangout on Saturday nights. That was the year A.A. (Andy) Murray opened his implement business and sold Star, Essex and Hudson cars.
1934
General Motors
A.A. (Andy) Murray took on the General Motors line of vehicles. He kept the garage open on Saturday nights until midnight and beyond, to allow the farmers, railroaders and other passers-by a chance to visit while gawking at all the latest automobiles. Back then, a fully-loaded luxury car would cost roughly $1,500.
1945
Conclusion of the Second World War
WE WON! the headlines proclaim, and the boys are heading back home after the conclusion of the Second World War. Among them were Ewart and Clair Murray, two of A.A.'s three sons. Few cars were sold during the war. Those that were sold did not have chrome, as chrome and almost all of Canada's resources were directed toward the war effort. Those wanting to purchase a car had to sign up on a waiting list to have any hope of making a purchase. It was a different story after the war, as Canada entered upon an era of unprecedented prosperity, and not only automobiles but tractors and other motorized farm machinery began to dominate the prairie landscape.
- 1950
1960
Brandon Automobiles Co. Ltd
Murray's Garage expands to Brandon, Manitoba. Clair Murray becomes president and general manager of Brandon Automobile Ltd. For the next decade, Pontiac, Buick, and Vauxhall cars, together with GMC trucks, are sold here.
1986
Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. Central Plains Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd. in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, is purchased, and Craig Dunn, a former sales manager for Murray Chev-Olds Cadillac in Brandon, becomes the dealer at Craig Dunn Motor City.
1988
Oak Bluff, Manitoba
Wiens Chevrolet Oldsmobile Ltd. in Oak Bluff, Manitoba, is purchased. Dan Murray becomes the dealer at Dan Murray Chevrolet Oldsmobile, Oak Bluff.
1992
Medicine Hat, Alberta
Bill Thompson Chevrolet Oldsmobile Cadillac, Ltd., in Medicine Hat, Alberta, is purchased by the Murray Group. Paul Murray is the new dealer at Murray Chevrolet Oldsmobile, Medicine Hat. Edmondson Chevrolet Oldsmobile Ltd. in Portage la Prairie is sold to the Murray Group. All four lines of GM vehicles are now sold from Craig Dunn Motor City.
1994
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Carter Motors Ltd. on Portage Avenue in Winnipeg is purchased. That dealership becomes Murray Chevrolet Oldsmobile, with Dan Murray as the dealer. Chris Murray takes over as principal dealer at Dan Murray Chevrolet Oldsmobile in Oak Bluff.
1995
Dauphin, Manitoba
Martin Motors Ltd. in Dauphin, Manitoba is sold to the Murray Group. Dean Cooley, who had been a sales manager at the Brandon dealership, becomes the dealer at Dean Colley Motors in Dauphin, where he sells four lines of GM product.
1996
The Souris Fire
The original Murray dealership in Souris is destroyed by fire on August 17. It had been operating as a satellite of the dealership in Brandon since 1990. After the fire, the local Ford dealership in Souris was purchased, and the satellite office moved to that location.
1996
Bow Island, Alberta
Bow Island, Alberta, is also added to the Murray Auto Group as a satellite of the Medicine Hat dealership. Dwight Kurtz is manager of the new outlet.
1997
Moose Jaw Saskatchewan
Brand City Chevrolet Oldsmobile Cadillac Ltd. in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan is purchased. Charles VandenBroek, a former sales manager for Murray's in Medicine Hat, is the new dealer at Murray Chevrolet Oldsmobile in Moose Jaw.
1997
Twenty-two Acres of Land in Winnipeg
is purchased by the Murray Group at the intersection of two busy auto routes, Waverley and Bishop Grandin. This is to be the location for the "Auto Mall of Manitoba." and new home of Murray Chevrolet Hummer
1999
Lethbridge, Alberta
Beny Chevrolet Oldsmobile Cadillac Ltd. in Lethbridge, Alberta is purchased. Chris Murray leaves Oak Bluff when the dealership closes, and becomes the dealer at Murray Chevrolet Oldsmobile Cadillac in Lethbridge.
- 2000
2001
Fort St. John, British Columbia
In Fort St. John, B.C., sixteen acres of land known as the Chiulli Triangle is purchased by the Murray Auto Group. This property lies between the Alaska Highway and 100 Ave. in Fort St. John, and is the home of Murray Chevrolet Oldsmobile Pontiac Buick GMC, as well as other commercial outlets.
2002
Abbotsford, British Columbia
The Pontiac, Buick, GMC dealership located in Abbotsford, British Columbia was acquired with Rob Taylor acting as Operating Partner.
2003
Estevan, Saskatchewan
The Murray Auto Group partners with Charles VanDen Broek to purchase Murray GM in Estevan, Saskatchewan and the associated satellite dealership in Oxbow, Saskatchewan. Brian Carlston acts as General Manager.
2004
Fort St. John Expansion
A major addition to the shop portion of the facility in Fort St. John was completed to accommodate the growth in its business.
2005
The Pas, Manitoba
The interests of Dean Cooley and Guy Bordian were purchased by Craig Dunn and Ian Gray respectively and the dealership began operating as Murray Dunn Motors The Pas with Ian Gray as the operating partner.
2005
Medicine Hat Expansion
We completed a major renovation of our facility in Medicine Hat to accommodate the continued expansion of that dealerships volume.
2005
Dauphin, Manitoba Relocation
Construction was completed of a new full line General Motors store in Dauphin and dealership operations were relocated to that facility.
2006
Merritt, British Columbia
We purchased the GM store in Merritt, British Columbia together with our operating partner Scott Robertson.
2007
Murray Hyundai
Murray Hyundai is built in the Waverley Automall in Winnipeg and becomes the first non-GM dealership within the Murray Auto Group. Damain Mannion, who worked with Dan Murray at the Chevrolet dealership becomes General Manager for this location. The Hyundai Dealership is recognized as the most Energy Efficient Dealership in North America with Solar Window, a Heat Recovery Ventilation system and Geothermal Heating.
2007
Abbotsford Automall
We purchased the Chevrolet Cadillac dealership located in the Abbotsford Automall with the intention to ultimately amalgamate its operations with our existing Pontiac store in Abbotsford under the leadership of Rob Taylor.
2007
Nipawin, Saskatchewan
We purchased the GM store in Nipawin, Saskatchewan together with Craig Dunn and our operating partner Lyall Cook.
2008
Yarmouth & Barrington, Nova Scotia
We purchased the GM store in Yarmouth and its satellite location in Barrington Nova Scotia with our operating partner Jeff Little.
2008
Neepawa, Manitoba
The former Murray GM dealership in Neepawa, Manitoba is purchased in the summer of 2008. Although the former dealership used Murray in its name; it was in fact was owned by a different Murray family unrelated to the founders of The Murray Auto Group. The Murray Auto Group along with Craig Dunn, purchased the dealership with Ryan McLaughlin acting as new General Manager for McLaughlin Motors.
2008
Maple Creek, Saskatchewan
In 2008, we constructed a new dealership to house the expanded operation in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.
2008
Murray Chevrolet Hummer Drops Hummer
2009
Murray Chevrolet Winnipeg wins CADA Award
Murray Chevrolet Winnipeg was awarded with the CADA Laureate award in the category of Retail Operations being the 1st Manitoban to achieve this prestigious award. The Laureate Program draws input from a wide range of industry stakeholders in its quest to identify Canada's finest dealers among all Manufactures, not just GM. At every stage of the process the Laureate is unrelenting in rigor and objectivity with the final selections being made by the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario."
2010
GM Discontinues the Pontiac Brand
2010
The Murray Auto Group has "Gone Platinum"
The Murray Auto Group was pleased to announce that they have "Gone Platinum". February 16th 2010, the National Post announced the Murray Auto Group as official members of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies, Platinum Club. Membership is restricted to the elite corporations who have been recognized for excellence as Canada's 50 Best for a minimum of six consecutive years.
2011
Murray Hyundai Whiterock
The Murray Auto Group partners with Cedric Gagne to establish Murray Hyundai White Rock. Cedric had worked within the Murray Group for 16 years and at the young age of 33 had worked his way up to taking on his own dealership.
2011
Murray Chevrolet Cadillac Brandon Gains Buick and GMC
General Motors assigns responsibility for the Buick and GMC brands, and a 50,000 sq.ft. dealership facility for the new Murray Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC in Brandon is built.
2011
Murray Chrysler Westman
Previously Radics Chrysler, this is the first Chrysler Dodge Ram Jeep dealership in the Murray Auto Group. The dealership has since moved into the former Murray Chevrolet Cadillac Building at 1550 Richmond Avenue in Brandon, Manitoba. Chris Smale acts as General Manager.
2012
Chilliwack, British Columbia
The Murray Auto Group purchases Murray Honda in Chilliwack British Columbia.
2012
Penticton, British Columbia
Murray Auto Group purchases the Buick GMC store in Penticton, BC with operating partner Scott Robertson creating Murray Buick GMC.
2012
Medicine Hat, Alberta
Murray Auto Group Partner Paul Murray opens Murray Hyundai Medicine Hat next to his existing General Motors dealership in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
2012
Lethbridge, Alberta
Murray Auto Group Partner Chris Murray opens Murray Kia Lethbridge next to his existing General Motors dealership in Lethbridge, Alberta.
2013
Abbotsford, British Columbia
The Murray Auto Group partners with Rob Taylor to open Murray Kia in Abbotsford, British Columbia next to the existing Murray General Motors dealership in Abbotsford.
2014
Murray Auto Group Purchased the Mazda dealership in Chilliwack British Columbia.
2014
Murray Auto Centre wins Long Term Business Achievement in Rural Manitoba
2014
Murray House Cancer Treatment Residence Opens in Brandon, Manitoba
The Murray Auto Group, becomes the principal donor to "A Sense of Home" campaign, a project that aims to build a residence for cancer patients receiving treatment at the new cancer centre to stay in a comfortable and convenient residence with their families. "We felt that this was a very good cause," said Murray. "Cancer touches almost everybody. It was a good cause for us as a business as well; Murray House will be housing people from rural communities who need to come into Brandon for treatment, and rural communities make up over half of our customer base. We felt that our customers deserve to know that we support something as important as this." Murray House, located on 521 Frederick Street, began construction in 2012 and opened its doors to guests in the Spring of 2014. The residence contains eight bedrooms, each with their own bathroom and an extra bed, with room for eight patients and family members.
"This is absolutely the biggest donation we have received," said Karen Chrest, Fundraising Coordinator.
"The $625,000 they donated is 25 per cent of the total cost of the project. With this donation we have now raised more than $1.4 million of the $2.5 million required." "The amazing generosity shown by the Murray Family and family demonstrates their families' commitment to this community and allows the Brandon RHA to provide much more in terms of care and comfort for patients during their cancer journey," said Brian Schoonbaert, CEO of the BRHA. "The Murray donation not only gives a huge financial boost to the BRHC Foundation's "A Sense of Home" residence building campaign, but provides the name to a residence that will offer a home away from home for the many patients who travel to Brandon from surrounding communities for cancer treatment.
2015
Daniel Holtmann Becomes Partner In June of 2015.
Daniel Holtmann became a Partner of the Murray Auto Group and General Manager of Murray GM Fort St. John BC.
2015
Murray matriarch to receive honorary diploma from ACC
Assiniboine Community College to recognize Mildred Murray, for her lifelong community involvement and volunteerism.
2016
Murray Chevrolet Cadillac Medicine Hat
Damian Mannion becomes partner in May 2016 and moves to Medicine Hat to be General Manager of Murray Chevrolet Cadillac
2018
Murray Auto Group purchases the Chrysler dealership in Okotoks, Alberta
Paul Murray takes over as the Dealer Principle, and his daughter Logan Murray becomes General Manager of the store.
2018
Murray Auto Group acquires Pembcorp with Chrysler stores in Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Morden, and Carman Manitoba.
Jared Lang becomes the General Manager for the Winnipeg dealership, Tyler Dunn General Manager for the Portage La Prairie location, and Chris Willsey General Manager for Morden and Carman locations.
2021
Murray Auto Group purchases the Ford dealership from the Kelleher Group in Dauphin, Manitoba.
Wade Thiele takes over as the General Manager for the store.2022
Murray Auto Group purchases GM dealership in Cochrane, Alberta.
Doug Murray partners with Mason Raymond and Chuck Elliott to expand automotive operations in Cochrane. The collaboration aims to enhance the dealership's offerings and strengthen the brand’s presence in the region.
2024
Murray Auto Group acquires Shaganappi GM in Calgary, Alberta.
Under the direction of Daniel Holtmann, this dealership will continue to uphold Murray Auto Groups commitment to providing top-quality vehicles and unparalleled customer service.
