Franchises, Throughput Down in First Half
A handful of states see franchise growth through June, while EV sales per store boost overall business in U.S.
U.S. store throughput, or units sold per store, fell 5% to 48 in the first half of the year.
Pexels/Tom Fisk
The number of U.S. auto retail franchises and vehicle sales per store fell in the first half of the year, though most areas of the country were flat on franchises.
Overall, franchise count decreased 1% from the end of 2024 to just under 30,000, while store throughput fell 5% to 48, according to Urban Science data.
Though the two metrics saw no growth nationally, several states did experience increases in the number of franchises, especially Texas, which added seven, according to the first-half report. Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey and North Carolina each had four store openings, while California and Florida added a smaller number of franchises.
The number of U.S. franchised dealerships, at 18,393, is essentially flat from the end of 2024, according to the report.
A bright spot in the data comes in electric-vehicle sales through June. EV throughput was at 171 for the period, compared to 155 at the end of last year, when EV deliveries hit records, Urban Science said.
EV sales have lately gotten a boost from the fact that federal tax credits for purchases and leases end in October, moving many consumers to make their move beforehand.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry
Pennsylvania Dealership Under New Retailers
The sale of the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram store puts a family auto group on a leaner path as first-time dealers take the helm.
Read More →
Battery Storage Takes Priority Over EVs
U.S. automakers are prioritizing battery energy stationary storage over electric-vehicle production as the consumer demand for EVs lags the rest of the world.
Read More →
Auto Dealers Feel Better But Not Great
A second-quarter Cox Automotive poll of franchised retailers and independents found better views of the current market after a good spring but anticipation of third-quarter storminess.
Read More →
New-Vehicle Sales Picture Relative
A May forecast is complicated by last spring’s trade tariff effects on auto retail. Despite continued hard realities, many consumers took advantage of ways to bite the bullet.
Read More →
Auto Group Acquires Third Nissan Rooftop
Iowa-based Coleman Automotive Group recently acquired its seventh dealership, McGrath Nissan, which it renamed Nissan of Elgin.
Read More →
April Less Affordable
Based on prices, reduced incentives and slower household income growth, consumers found it more challenging to buy new last month, Cox Automotive reported.
Read More →
Building an Extraordinary F&I Agency
Work to determine your specialized talent, because that fact will determine everything about your agency’s future.
Read More →
Recipe for Compliance
The secret to both amazing barbecue and compliance is the same: understanding the basics and committing to a process.
Read More →
EVs Getting More Attractive
A growing percentage of U.S. consumers are open to switching and fewer are adverse to the idea, according to a recently completed survey. That’s despite the end of a tax break.
Read More →
EV Sales Drop in April Following Surge
North American electric-vehicle sales were down 28% year-over-year, a sharp contrast from global EV sales growth of 6%.
Read More →