The car concession market - Germany

1.1 Scope of the study

Car dealerships are a common type of retail chain that aims to make the purchase and resale of motor vehicles easier. Although they may be independent of car manufacturers, they often maintain ties with specific brands through purchase and sale agreements. These dealers have established their own distribution network offering vehicles of the specific brand to which they are linked, both new and used. The used car market plays a crucial role, as nearly half of all car sales involve used vehicles.

Despite increasing competition from online sales, car dealerships still have a strong position as it remains the traditional way to buy a car. They benefit from the historic image of the brands they represent, and that helps to build a pool of regular customers. This also benefits customers who do not yet have experience with the brands, as they tend to rely on the established image and reputation of these brands.

The market for electric vehicles is growing quickly, although their presence in Germany is currently limited. Electric vehicles are expected to account for almost a third of the market by 2025. Production processes are becoming more efficient, enabling vehicles to be distributed quicker. This trend could be further accelerated by the planned ban on gasoline and diesel engines by 2035, which was voted on by the EU Parliament on June 8, 2022.

In Germany, the car trade market has experienced steady growth in recent years. Between 2010 and 2021, the average compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was 2.98%.

The market for car dealerships ranges from small privately-owned brands to large regional or national chains such as Avag Holding, Gottfried Schulz, Senger Group, and the Faser-Graf Group.

The following study deals with current trends and challenges in the industry. In addition, the market structure and the competition are analyzed to present insightful information.