Eugene-based Kendall Auto Group, which has two dozen dealerships in four states, is prepared to purchase Carrera Motors in Bend, if it can win manufacturer approval, the Kendall president said Wednesday.

“We’ve discussed things with Carrera,” said Dave Blewett, Kendall president, “But no sale is consummated.”

Carrera Motors General Manager Dan Horton said many others are interested in buying the dealership; he declined comment on the Kendall bid. Horton is also listed as one of Carrera’s three owners in Oregon DMV records, along with P. Thomas Anderson and Robina Johnson.

Located at 1045 S.E. Third St., Carrera sells Audis, BMWs, Porsches and Volkswagens. It also owns a dealership in Medford.

Kendall, a family-owned business, owns eight dealerships in Eugene and others in Idaho, Montana and Alaska, Blewett said. It deals in several makes, foreign and domestic, including Acura, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Honda, Scion and Toyota. The company owns property in Bend, where it sold cars for several years, he said.

“We ran a used-car operation there through 2007, and then we scaled back when the economy scaled back,” he said.

Kendall needs approval from the makers of Carrera’s brands to buy the dealership, Blewett said. The process of vetting Kendall is in only the beginning stages.

“They want to make sure that the people that are coming in and buying the franchise will represent them well. They want to interview the president and shareholders and make sure we have adequate capital. They want to vet the capabilities of the new owners,” Blewett said. “You don’t have a deal until they approve you.”

Blewett said the sale, if it goes through, could close by February.

— Reporter: 541-617-7815; jditzler@ bendbulletin.com