The Sewell Family of Companies Expands to Iowa
The West Texas group acquires Willis Automotive of Des Moines, adding six brands — Lexus, Volvo, Land Rover, MINI, INFINITI and Nissan — for a total of 17 brands to serve clients.
Midland/Odessa, Texas The Sewell Family of Companies has acquired Willis Automotive of Des Moines, Iowa, in partnership with the Willis family.
Two families, miles apart, built their businesses much the same way — on the belief that a great business is earned one guest at a time. Today those two enterprises become partners. Willis Automotive is a family-owned group founded in 1947 and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa.
“Willis is an exceptional organization with great people, a strong culture, and a reputation earned over many years. Our family has tremendous respect for what Rich Willis and hundreds of Willis team members have built. Our vision is to partner with Jason Willis and the Willis team, learn from one another, and build on an already strong foundation for the next generation of clients and team members.”
A broader lineup to serve clients
Sewell has sold Fords for more than a century, adding Lincoln, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, BMW, Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Kia over the decades. Willis brings six more — Lexus, Volvo, Land Rover, MINI, INFINITI and Nissan — plus additional Cadillac and Chevrolet dealerships in Des Moines.
What stays the same
The Willis name continues
Willis Automotive will continue serving the Des Moines community under the Willis name, with its current team in place.
Leadership in place
Jason Willis continues as President of Willis Automotive and remains an owner of the company alongside the Sewell family.
West Texas unchanged
Sewell’s West Texas dealerships and facilities are unchanged, and the acquisition creates new leadership paths for team members in both states.
Built the same way, one guest at a time
Family-owned and rooted in West Texas, Sewell has served the Permian Basin and beyond for more than a century — carrying Ford since its earliest days and growing across Midland, Odessa, Andrews, and Fort Worth.
A family-owned group founded in 1947 and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, Willis has grown into one of Iowa’s most respected dealership organizations — earning its reputation the same way, one guest at a time.