More Franchises, Record Per-Store Sales at U.S. Dealerships in 2012

While the number of U.S. car dealerships stayed relatively flat last year, there was a record 812 sales per dealership, found data from Detroit retail consulting firm Urban Science. The per-store amount was higher than projected, and beat the 2005 high of 784 units. Urban Science projects 839 units sold per dealership this year.

The 17,851 dealerships were up 0.5% from the 17,767 in 2011 as the lost Saab and Suzuki dealers were offset by sturdier overall sales. The number of franchise dealerships increased to 21,139 from 18,130, partly due to Chrysler making Ram a separate brand from Dodge, which added 2,277 franchises nationwide. There were formerly 187 Saab dealers.

Texas grew most, with the addition of 25 dealerships, while Georgia lost 10. Since 2009, Michigan remained in the bottom five states, losing 10 dealerships in the first half of the year, but adding another dealership later in the year.

Urban Science doesn’t project other downsized brands this year, but alluded that Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Kia are looking to add dealers.