Utah-based auto group Larry H. Miller Corp. has bought the former Hallmark Hyundai dealership, its fourth Spokane-area acquisition.

The dealership, located at 8801 E. Sprague in Spokane Valley and now named Larry H. Miller Hyundai Spokane, employs 26 people, most of whom worked for Hallmark Hyundai under former owners Dennis Waltermire and Victor Pestrin, says Steve Styren, the new general manager there.

Styren declines to disclose the terms of the transaction.

Styren says he expects the staff will grow under the new ownership and management.

Larry H. Miller companies also own Honda, Lexus, and Toyota dealerships in downtown Spokane, having bought them in 2009 from Downtown Automotive Dealerships, of Spokane. Styren had been sales manager at Larry H. Miller Downtown Toyota Spokane before the Hyundai dealership acquisition.

In all, Larry H. Miller companies own 45 auto dealerships in seven Western states, including four other Hyundai dealerships.

The Hyundai showroom and offices in Spokane Valley occupy 15,000 square feet of space on a 1.75 acre lot on the north side of Sprague Avenue, a few blocks west of Argonne Road.

Styren says the dealership plans to renovate and expand the showroom. "It's going to have lots of updates," he says.

Larry H. Miller signage will replace the Hallmark signage as soon as the weather allows, Styren says.

The dealership includes parts and service departments, and it services all car makes and models. It also has a used-car sales area, he says.

Hyundai Motor Co., which is based in South Korea, is one of the fastest-growing auto manufacturers in the world, Styren asserts. He says the biggest selling points for Hyundai vehicles are fuel economy and dependability.

"The average miles per gallon is in the mid-30s. Two or three models average 40 miles per gallon," he says.

The dealership's website shows 10 Hyundai models ranging from the $12,500 Accent compact to the $59,000 Equus luxury sedan.

"Hyundai has a lot of new products and style changes coming," Styren says.

The dealership expects to receive shipments totaling 85 new cars in the next 90 days, he says.