Car dealership

A car dealership, or car dealer, is a business that sells new or used cars, at the retail level, based on a dealership contract with an automaker or its sales subsidiary. Car dealerships also often sell spare parts and automotive maintenance services.

Typical car dealership (in this case a Jeep dealer) in the U.S. selling used cars outside, new cars in the showroom, as well as a vehicle entrance to the parts and service area in the back of the building

An aerial view of auto dealer's service in Kuopio, Finland

Service and repair entrance

Auto dealer's service and repair facility

Dealer for vintage cars

History of car dealerships in the United States

Main article: Car dealerships in the United States

The early cars were sold by automakers to customers directly or through a variety of channels, including mail order, department stores, and traveling representatives. For example, Sears made its first attempt at selling a gasoline-engined chain-drive high-wheeler in 1908 through its mail-order catalog and starting in 1951 the Allstate through select its stores and the catalog.^[1][2]

The first dealership in the United States was established in 1898 by William E. Metzger. Today, direct sales by an automaker to consumers are limited by most states in the U.S. through franchise laws that require new cars to be sold only by licensed and bonded, independently owned dealerships.^[3] The first woman car dealer in the United States was Rachel "Mommy" Krouse who in 1903 opened her business, Krouse Motor Car Company, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[4]

Car dealerships are usually franchised to sell and service vehicles by specific companies. They are often located on properties offering enough room to have buildings housing a showroom, mechanical service, and body repair facilities, as well as to provide storage for used and new vehicles. Many dealerships are located out of town or on the edge of town centers. An example of a traditional single proprietorship car dealership was Collier Motors in North Carolina.^[5] Many modern dealerships are now part of corporate-owned chains with hundreds of locations.^[6] Dealership profits in the US mainly come from servicing, some from used cars, and little from new cars.^[7]

Most automotive manufacturers have shifted the focus of their franchised retailers to branding and technology. New or refurbished facilities are required to have a standard look for their dealerships and have product experts to liaise with customers.^[8][9] Audi has experimented with a hi-tech showroom that allows customers to configure and experience cars on 1:1 scale digital screens.^[10][11] In markets where it is permitted, Mercedes-Benz opened city centre brand stores.^[12]

Tesla Motors has rejected the dealership sales model based on the idea that dealerships do not properly explain the advantages of their cars, and they could not rely on third-party dealerships to handle their sales. However, in the United States, direct manufacturer auto sales are prohibited in almost every state by franchise laws requiring that new cars be sold only by dealers.^[13] In response, Tesla has opened city centre galleries where prospective customers can view cars that can only be ordered online.^[14][15] These stores were inspired by the Apple Stores.^[16] Tesla's model was the first of its kind, and has given them unique advantages as a new car company.^[17]

Dispute

At least one study has found that franchises increase car costs.^[18]

Additionally, the issuance of new dealership licenses is subject to geographical restriction; if there is already a dealership for a company in an area, no one else can open one. This has led to dealerships becoming in essence hereditary, with families running dealerships in an area since the original issuance of their license with no fear of competition or any need to prove qualification or consumer benefit (beyond proving they meet minimum legal standards), as franchises in most jurisdictions can only be withdrawn for illegal activity and no other reason.^[19]

This has led to consumer campaigns for establishment or reform, which have been met by huge lobbying efforts by franchise holders. New companies trying to enter the market, such as Tesla, have been restricted by this model and have either been forced out or been forced to work around the franchise model, facing constant legal pressure.^[20]

Multibrand car dealers

Multibrand and multimaker car dealers sell cars from different and independent carmakers.^[21] Some are specialized in electric vehicles.^[22]

Auto transport

Auto transport is used to move vehicles from the factory to the dealerships. This includes international and domestic shipping. It was largely a commercial activity conducted by manufacturers, dealers, and brokers. Internet use has encouraged this niche service to expand and reach the general consumer marketplace.

See also

• Auto auction
• Auto row
• Automaker
• Car broker
• Car rental
• List of auto dealership and repair shop buildings
• Showroom
• Used car

Organizations

• AutoBidsOnline
• Carfax
• Kelley Blue Book
• Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations of India (FADA)
• National Automobile Dealers Association
• Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry

References

1. Strohl, Daniel (24 October 2018). "Sears sold many things well, just not automobiles". Hemmings. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
2. Tate, Robert (17 March 2015). "When Sears Sold Vehicles: Remembering the Allstate | 2015 | Story of the Week". motorcities.org. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
3. Quinland, Roger M. "Has the Traditional Automobile Franchise System Run Out of Gas?". The Franchise Lawyer. 16 (3). from the original on 14 May 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
4. The Evening Bulletin (published by Philadelphia Bulletin) 7 December 1953 page 1 (column 3) and page 16 (column 4) and The Evening Bulletin 29 January 1954 (obituary)
5. Cotter, Tom (22 September 2013). "Former AMC Dealership Full of Cars". Barn Finds. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
6. Tucker, Sean (15 September 2021). "The Future of Car Shopping: Fewer Dealerships, More Consolidation". Kelley Blue Book. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
7. "NADA Data 2015 the annual financial profile of new-car dealerships". National Automobile Dealers Association. 2015. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
8. "New BMW stores to be big, open, beige".
9. "Geniuses smart move for dealers, BMW says".
10. Foy, Henry (29 December 2013). "Online showrooms and digital dealerships revolutionise car buying". FT. from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
11. Singh, Sarwant. "The Future of Car Retailing". Forbes. from the original on 29 April 2017.
12. . daimler.com. 2 January 2014. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
13. Bodisch, Gerald R. (May 2009). "Economic Effects of State Bans on Direct Manufacturer Sales to Car Buyers". United States Department of Justice. from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
14. "Tesla sets up shop in Dallas -- minus test-drives and sales".
15. "Tesla: we're not car dealerships". from the original on 30 May 2016.
16. "The Perfect Tesla Store". tesla.com. from the original on 6 December 2017.
17. Gross, Daniel (11 April 2016). "Tesla's Real Innovation Isn't the Electric Car". Slate. from the original on 6 December 2017.
18. "Auto Franchise Laws Restrict Consumer Choice and Increase Prices".
19. "State Franchise Law Carjacks Auto Buyers".
20. Yglesias, Matthew (26 October 2014). "Car dealers are awful. It's time to kill the dumb laws that keep them in business". Vox. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
21. "Archived copy" (PDF). (PDF) from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
22. Blanco, Sebastian. "First EVEN EV store opens in Iceland's biggest shopping mall". from the original on 6 April 2015.

Further reading

• Genat, Robert (2004). The American Car Dealership. Motorbooks International. ISBN 9780760319345.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Automobile dealerships.

• EU car dealership reforms