The owner of the Wenatchee, Wash., Kia auto dealership has bought the Kia dealership here from Hallmark Hyundai Kia, of Spokane, says Michael Mackey, general sales manager of Wenatchee Kia.


Terms of the transaction werent disclosed.


Wenatchee Kias owner, Wenatchee Valleys Truck & Auto Outlet Inc., plans to change the name of the dealership here to Spokane Kia and open it under that name on Dec. 1, Mackey says.


The Spokane dealership initially will operate out of leased space at 17217 E. Sprague, which is the former Appleway Homes mobile home sales center in Greenacres, he says. The dealerships service department will be located at 14909 E. Sprague in a former Big O Tires Inc. outlet.


Spokane Kia will look for a location where it can build a new showroom and service center here, Mackey says.


He says the dealership here will employ between 30 and 40 people.


Wenatchee Valleys Truck & Auto Outlet bought Hallmarks inventory of new Kias in October, and Hallmark no longer sells that line of cars. Hallmark, however, will continue to do service and repair work on Kias until Dec. 1.


Hallmark continues to sell Hyundai vehicles at its lot at 8801 E. Sprague, which formerly was the site of George Gee Pontiac/GMC.


Wenatchee Valleys Truck & Auto Outlet is owned by Sidney and Arlene Kane, of Wenatchee.