U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
Fact #738: July 30, 2012
Number of New Light Vehicle Dealerships Decreasing
The number of franchised new light vehicle dealerships peaked in 1949 with more than 49,000 dealers. By 2012, the number is less than half of that – 17,540 dealers.
Number of Franchised New Light Vehicle Dealerships
Supporting Information
Number of Franchised New-Car Dealerships, 1947-2012
| Year |
Number of Dealerships |
| 1947 |
45,500 |
| 1948 |
46,000 |
| 1949 |
49,200 |
| 1950 |
47,000 |
| 1951 |
47,500 |
| 1952 |
46,000 |
| 1953 |
45,200 |
| 1954 |
41,900 |
| 1955 |
40,400 |
| 1956 |
41,000 |
| 1957 |
40,000 |
| 1958 |
37,300 |
| 1959 |
36,400 |
| 1960 |
35,000 |
| 1961 |
34,500 |
| 1962 |
34,200 |
| 1963 |
33,700 |
| 1964 |
33,500 |
| 1965 |
33,700 |
| 1966 |
32,900 |
| 1967 |
32,000 |
| 1968 |
31,100 |
| 1969 |
31,000 |
| 1970 |
30,800 |
| 1971 |
30,300 |
| 1972 |
30,100 |
| 1973 |
30,100 |
| 1974 |
30,000 |
| 1975 |
29,600 |
| 1976 |
29,300 |
| 1977 |
29,100 |
| 1978 |
29,000 |
| 1979 |
28,500 |
| 1980 |
27,900 |
| 1981 |
26,350 |
| 1982 |
25,700 |
| 1983 |
24,725 |
| 1984 |
24,725 |
| 1985 |
24,725 |
| 1986 |
24,825 |
| 1987 |
25,150 |
| 1988 |
25,025 |
| 1989 |
25,000 |
| 1990 |
24,825 |
| 1991 |
24,200 |
| 1992 |
23,500 |
| 1993 |
22,950 |
| 1994 |
22,850 |
| 1995 |
22,800 |
| 1996 |
22,750 |
| 1997 |
22,700 |
| 1998 |
22,600 |
| 1999 |
22,400 |
| 2000 |
22,250 |
| 2001 |
22,150 |
| 2002 |
21,800 |
| 2003 |
21,725 |
| 2004 |
21,650 |
| 2005 |
21,640 |
| 2006 |
21,495 |
| 2007 |
21,200 |
| 2008 |
20,770 |
| 2009 |
20,010 |
| 2010 |
18,460 |
| 2011 |
17,700 |
| 2012 |
17,540 |
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Source: National Automobile Dealers Association
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