The number of new-car dealerships in the U.S. increased by nearly 1% in 2024, reaching a total of 18,311 as of January 1, according to the 2025 Automotive News Dealer Census. The total number of franchises decreased by 1.3%, bringing the count down to 29,829. Despite the reduction in franchises, the average throughput for the industry rose by 5.8%, reaching 511 vehicles per franchise. This increase was fueled by higher U.S. sales of light vehicles, which totaled 15.35 million, up from 14.9 million in 2023.
Domestic automakers, including Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, continued consolidating their networks, shedding stores while import brands expanded. Ford lost 68 dealerships, the most among the Detroit 3, while Lincoln trimmed 58 franchises, and Buick eliminated 135 as part of its ongoing dealer buyout program. Buick’s reductions led to an increase in exclusive Chevrolet and GMC dealerships. Meanwhile, Jaguar, which is transitioning to an all-electric lineup, lost 24 franchises.
Genesis and Hyundai saw the most significant growth in exclusive stores, with Genesis increasing standalone locations from 11 to 60 as part of its strategy to separate from Hyundai. Hyundai added 80 exclusive stores, reaching 612. Other brands, including Mazda and Porsche, also saw a rise in standalone stores, while Mitsubishi, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Maserati saw their franchise numbers decline.
Toyota maintained the highest throughput in 2024 at 1,607 vehicles per dealership, followed by Lexus, Honda, BMW, and Subaru. Jaguar saw the most significant ranking increase in throughput, while Mini and Dodge experienced the steepest declines.
