Urban Science: U.S. Auto Retail Network Achieves Record Average Sales Per Store For Third Straight Year

- Network tops 2014 record by more than 45 units per store

- Number of U.S. dealerships and franchises remains stable year over year

- Texas, California and Florida top the list of states that added the most dealerships

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Feb 04, 2015, 11:00 ET

DETROIT, Feb. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Urban Science released statistics and insights today from its 2014 year end Automotive Franchise Activity Report (FAR), which projects that throughput – the average number of sales per dealership – has achieved an all-time record of 921 units based on vehicle sales of 16.5 million. This all-time high will mark the third straight year the U.S. dealership network set a new throughput record.

The most recent Franchise Activity Report from Urban Science shows a slight increase in the number of automotive dealerships in the United States since the end of 2013. As of December 31, 2014, there were 17,953 dealerships (rooftops), a 0.6 percent increase from last December's total of 17,838. The number of franchises (brands a dealership sells) also increased slightly 0.5 percent - from 31,440 on Dec. 31, 2013, to 31,609 as of Dec. 31, 2014.

The most recent FAR shows a slight increase in the number of automotive dealerships in the United States since the end of 2013. As of December 31, 2014, there were 17,953 dealerships (rooftops), a 0.6 percent increase from last December's total of 17,838. The number of franchises (brands a dealership sells) also increased slightly 0.5 percent – from 31,440 on Dec. 31, 2013, to 31,609 as of Dec. 31, 2014.

"Sales throughput for dealers has achieved another record level due to a great sales year and a stable dealer count. This is the third year in a row that this record has been broken," said Mitch Phillips, Global Director at Urban Science. "2015 looks promising. With a stable dealer count, as we have seen over the past several years, and the strong sales forecast which the industry is now predicting, we could see this record broken again."

Data shows that 96 percent of local markets had virtually no net change over 2014 (+/- 1 dealership). However, the most significant (net) dealership increases occurred in: Texas, eighteen Dealerships, California and Florida, thirteen dealerships; Georgia, twelve dealerships; and North Carolina, seven dealerships.

About the Automotive Franchise Activity Report

Urban Science maintains a list of current new vehicle dealership and franchise information for all car and light truck brands in the United States. Compiled on a monthly basis, the census is the most reliable source of dealership statistics. The data comes from a variety of sources, including feeds from automotive manufacturers as well as phone and field verification. Urban Science has been collecting this information since 1990 and compiles a yearly analysis every February for the previous year in its annual Automotive Franchise Activity Report.

About Urban Science

Founded in 1977, Urban Science is a global retail consulting firm that takes a scientific approach to help companies identify where they should allocate resources in order to increase their market share and profitability in the most effective and efficient manner. With headquarters in Detroit, Urban Science serves its global clientele from offices in the United States, Spain, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Australia, China, Mexico, Russia, Japan, India and Brazil. For more information on Urban Science, visit www.urbanscience.com.