Poll Of The Week: Should GM Have More Or Less Dealers In The U.S.?
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During its restructuring process in 2010, GM announced plans to shutter approximately 2,000 dealerships. When all was said and done, however, the automaker ended up reinstating almost half of the outlets planned for closure, putting the final tally of dealers at the 5,000 mark.
And while GM had its reasons for consolidating its dealer network, some had major beef with the original decision to do away with the nearly 2,000 stores… which brings us to our poll for this week: should GM have more or less than its current 5,000 dealerships?
Vote in the poll below — and feel free to let your opinion be heard in the comments below!
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The issue is its dealer structure is out dated, GM does need to restructure its dealer network. The Brands have been strangely clumped together; not that having Buick and GMC together is a bad thing. Chevy dealerships are abundant in some areas but non existant in others. Dealerships are often of the beaten path, where newer brands have better placed dealerships, providing easier access to consumers.
Thats true, the number is not the issue, here in california at least, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti all have separate dealerships from their parents companies. GM needs more stand alone dealerships, except buick and gmc, because if gmc was it bit more upmarket than they would fit together perfectly. Some cities have a couple together, but another city will have few if any at all.
In my area, we have 3 Chevy dealers in an area of about 60,000 people with 6 more dealers within about a 20-30 mile radius. It would make since in a major metro area with hundreds of thousands of people but 8-10 dealerships within 30 miles of each other is senseless. Being a comission sales consultant, the market is oversaturated making it extremely difficult for any of us in this area to make a decent living. I feel the dealerships should go along the lines of the population, just a thought.
I feel your pain, Michael. I’m guessing that some of the 8-10 stores in your area were marked for closure, but after the appeals process, were allowed to continue.
Less dealers (to a point where it makes sense, of course) allows higher volume per store, which leads to more available funds to upgrade facilities and invest in training, etc. But 8-10 dealers in a 50-mile radius is way too much!
Less. GM dealerships need to wow customers with sleek modern styling and numerous amenities that small dealers could never afford to build.
What dealership is in the picture?
It’s a concept store design provided by Chevy as a guideline for architecture, etc.
Why not have GM own and run it’s dealerships ? cut out the middle man.
they need more dealer ,,and stop dealer to get more car company….specially some dealer dont care about service.they need to get inspector to check some dealer ,,,,dont forget gm the dealer supose to represent the company bad service is bad for gm..
Chevrolet has some great dealerships out there. Then the others that should of closed or had a complete change of dealer’s management attitudes toward the customers present or future. I think you should feel welcome to come in to browse or want to come for parts or service.
I think that could be best accomplished by @dannyg’s recommendations of bringing the network in house.