Times still may be tough for the country's automobile industry as it battles through the economic downturn but one Utah dealer is looking toward the bright side and expanding his operations rather than retrenching.

Mark Miller, perhaps best known for the Toyota dealership in downtown Salt Lake City bearing his name, has purchased the Larry H. Miller Subaru dealership in Sandy. The acquisition brings to four the number of locations operated under the Mark Miller name.

"Although we already have a Subaru store [in South Salt Lake], we plan to operate our new Sandy dealership as a completely separate operation with its own general manager, sales and service staffs," Miller said.

After months of roller coaster-like results, the industry in the view of many earlier this month began to show signs of a recovery, with automakers reporting higher levels of U.S. sales.

And the biggest winner was the Japanese automaker Subaru, which saw a 41 percent surge in sales during the month, thanks to exceptionally strong demand for its Outback and Forester models.

"Subaru is the number two-selling car in the Salt Lake City market," Miller said, indicating his South Salt Lake Subaru store is on track for a normal sales year despite the industry's hard times.

Representatives of Larry H. Miller Group of Cos. were unavailable Thursday for comment about why the dealership was being sold. In a recent statement announcing the sale, CEO Greg Miller said his family has "tremendous respect for Mark and his operations, and we have enjoyed our dealings in the past."

There is no familial relation between the Larry H. Miller and Mark Miller organizations.

"Both organizations are top-notch businesses. For this transaction to have happened it had to be mutually beneficial for both sides," said Craig Bickmore, executive director of the New Car Dealers of Utah.

Bickmore added that Utah's automobile dealers have done a good job cutting costs during the recession, which should prove beneficial as times get better and more consumers return to dealership sales floors.

"There are signs the industry is picking up," he said. "There are bright spots on the horizon."

Mark Miller, who also operates a Buick and Pontiac dealership, said he feels particularly fortunate to have received Subaru's permission to acquire Larry H. Miller Subaru.

"It is unusual for them to allow one of their existing dealers to acquire another dealership in a contiguous market. For us, it is one of the best things to have happened to this business in a long time."

steve@sltrib.com