CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA -- Late yesterday, Iowa Glass Depot, Inc. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, announced the sale of its Automotive Finishes Division to CARQUEST Automotive Finishes, a subsidiary of General Parts International (GPI).

Automotive Finishes started as part of the Iowa Glass family in the early 1950s as a distributor to the automotive aftermarket, specializing in paint-related products. In the early 1990s, the company increased its focus on growth in the six Midwestern states of Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. Currently, there are 31 Automotive Finishes locations within this six-state market.

“CARQUEST is an exceptional organization that has made a commitment to be the leader in the PBE sector. We feel as though this gives Automotive Finishes’ employees an outstanding opportunity for growth and success in the future,” said Steve Dummermuth, CEO of Iowa Glass.

“We are grateful and excited with the opportunity to have Automotive Finishes join our company,” said Temple Sloan Jr., chairman of GPI. “Steve Dummermuth and Jay Sharp have provided excellent leadership in building an outstanding company with a focus on customer service. At GPI, we look forward to being a part of Automotive Finishes’ continued growth.”

The sale of Automotive Finishes is scheduled to be completed Dec. 1.