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SPARTANBURG, SC · UPSTATE EDITION · MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2026
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Steve White Auto Group Returns Spartanburg VW Dealership to Local Hands

Published April 27, 2026 at 8:37 am | By A. Preston Acker, Staff Reporter

Steve White Auto Group Returns Spartanburg VW Dealership to Local Hands

Volkswagen of Spartanburg has a new name and a familiar philosophy. Steve White Auto Group completed the acquisition of the 2671 Reidville Road dealership this spring, rebranding it Steve White Volkswagen Spartanburg and returning the store to family ownership for the first time since 2023.

The dealership had operated for decades under Vic Bailey Automotive, a multi-generational Spartanburg institution. In 2023, a large regional automotive group purchased it as part of an industry-wide consolidation wave. Steve White Auto Group — which has operated for more than 25 years in the Upstate selling Volkswagen, Audi, and Volvo models — acquired it back earlier this year.

Marc White, Dealer Principal for Steve White Auto Group, characterized the move as a return of meaningful investment to Spartanburg rather than simply an expansion of the company’s footprint. White emphasized that leadership being present and engaged daily makes a measurable difference in how employees and customers experience a dealership.

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All current employees at the dealership are being retained, and the company expects to hire additional staff in sales, service, and support roles as the store grows. Steve White plans to invest in facility upgrades and expanded service capacity to meet rising demand in the Spartanburg market, where vehicle ownership trends have remained strong amid ongoing population growth in the county.

The deal reflects a broader counter-trend in the auto retail sector: locally rooted operators pushing back against out-of-state consolidation. Steve White now operates multiple franchise points across the Upstate, keeping decision-making and jobs anchored in the region. Marc White noted that Spartanburg’s track record in manufacturing and economic growth made it an attractive market for the company’s continued investment.

What's Happening
Which dealership was acquired and where is it?
Steve White Auto Group acquired Volkswagen of Spartanburg at 2671 Reidville Road, rebranding it Steve White Volkswagen Spartanburg.
Who previously owned the dealership?
Vic Bailey Automotive held the store for decades before a large regional group acquired it in 2023. Steve White Auto Group is returning it to local, family ownership.
What happens to current employees?
All current employees are being retained, and Steve White plans to add staff across sales, service, and support roles as the store expands.
A. Preston Acker
HERESpartanburg · BUSINESS

A. is a staff reporter for HERE Spartanburg covering local news, community stories, and developments across Spartanburg County. A. is committed to accurate, community-first journalism.

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