COLUMBIA, S.C. — Peacock Automotive, headquartered in the Hilton Head Island area of South Carolina, has announced it is expanding in Columbia with the purchase of Jim Hudson Hyundai and Genesis at 310 Greystone Boulevard.

“Our company also owns Jaguar Land Rover Columbia, located off I-26 on Jamil Road, so we’re excited to expand our presence here,” said Warner Peacock, Chairman and CEO of Peacock Automotive. "We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to gain new clients in the Midlands and offer them the exceptional service that all of our customers enjoy.”

John Guth will serve as Midlands platform director, overseeing all of Peacock Automotive’s Columbia dealerships. Kris Childs will be general manager of the Hyundai and Genesis dealerships.

“We plan on continuing our company’s philanthropic efforts already in place in Columbia with our support of local organizations such as the Free Medical Clinic, the National Kidney Foundation, the Historic Columbia Foundation, and other effective, important causes,” said Peacock. “Giving back to our local communities is part of our company’s culture and this acquisition gives us more opportunity to do so.”

The acquisition of the Columbia properties will increase Peacock Automotive’s inventory by 350 new and pre-owned vehicles and add 30 jobs to the group, which employs more than 700 people in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. With this acquisition, Peacock Automotive has added more than six acres and a little over 33,000 square feet of facilities to its footprint of 24 automotive dealerships in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, thereby giving the company a total of 538,054 square feet of facilities and 122 acres of land, all according to the announcement.