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
Auto Group Acquires Top-Performing Rooftop
Car Pros sold its Kia Huntington Beach location to Sutherlin Automotive Group, marking the buyer’s third location in Southern California.
Read More →
China as Pacesetter
Automotive leaders huddled on where North America stands in the global picture and how it can strengthen its position against the Asian juggernaut’s surging industry.
Read More →
BMW Concept Car Makes Fuel to Burn
The prototype developed in concert with a South Carolina university engineering team generates more solar energy than it uses in a typical daily commute.
Read More →
South Carolina Auto Group Downsizes
Florida-based group Holler-Classic has acquired four rooftops, its first in South Carolina, from Dick Smith Automotive Group.
Read More →
July Was Hot for Auto Borrowers
Credit proved readily available for many, but most loans left buyers in negative territory, Cox Automotive said.
Read More →
Structure Leads to Optimized Auto Listings
As the average car-buying journey has shifted to a blend of digital and retail, a dealership’s vehicle listings must be optimized to answer shoppers’ questions clearly and accurately.
Read More →
Consumers Mixed on Economy, Finances
A July survey shows spotty sentiment of current and future conditions, in addition to demographic differences as overall opinion of present circumstances kept sliding.
Read More →
EVs Closing the European Gap
Electrified powertrains led June new-vehicle sales in Europe, reaching 26% of the market.
Read More →
Early Intervention Saves Retention
Sales and service departments have the highest annual dealership turnover rates, according to a new industry report, costing money and time that could be better spent elsewhere.
Read More →
Autos More Appealing
Consumers gave new cars better scores again this year for design, performance and more as mass-market brands kept gaining on premium lineups, JD Power found in an annual poll.
Read More →