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New Light Vehicle Dealerships and Sales, 1970–2006

The number of franchised dealerships which sell new light-duty vehicles (cars and light trucks) has declined 30% since 1970, though new vehicle sales have increased. The average number of vehicles sold per dealer in 2006 was 768 vehicles per dealer – more than double the 1970 number.

Calendar
year

Number of
franchised new
light vehicle
dealerships (a)

New light
vehicle sales
(thousands)
 Light vehicle
sales per
dealer
1970 30,800 9,862 320
1971 30,300 12,006 396
1972 30,100 13,189 438
1973 30,100 14,184 471
1974 30,000 11,191 373
1975 29,600 10,905 368
1976 29,300 13,066 446
1977 29,100 14,613 502
1978 29,000 15,122 521
1979 28,500 13,984 491
1980 27,900 11,389 408
1981 26,350 10,678 405
1982 25,700 10,426 406
1983 24,725 12,132 491
1984 24,725 14,187 574
1985 24,725 15,437 624
1986 24,825 15,998 644
1987 25,150 14,802 589
1988 25,025 15,347 613
1989 25,000 14,389 576
1990 24,825 13,851 558
1991 24,200 12,312 509
1992 23,500 12,842 546
1993 22,950 13,869 604
1994 22,850 15,024 658
1995 22,800 14,688 644
1996 22,750 15,046 661
1997 22,700 15,069 664
1998 22,600 15,441 683
1999 22,400 16,771 748
2000 22,250 17,234 774
2001 22,150 17,123 773
2002 21,800 16,816 771
2003 21,725 16,548 762
2004 21,650 16,867 779
2005 21,640 16,948 783
2006 21,495 16,505 768
Average annual percentage change
1970–2006 -1.00% 1.40% 2.50%
1996–2006 -0.60% 0.90% 1.50%

Source: Number of dealers - National Automobile Dealers Association, Automotive Executive Magazine, 2007. (Additional resources: http://www.nada.org/NR/rdonlyres/5E107D06-32C7-4D06-8C0A- 28C1112BF583/0/NADA_DATA_2007_NewCar_Dealerships.pdf) Light-duty vehicle sales - See TRANSPORTATION ENERGY DATA BOOK: EDITION 27–2008 tables 4.5 and 4.6.
(a) Includes cold-rolled and pre-coated steel.

 


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