The study “Future of the Automotive Dealerships 2026” offers a quantitative view of how German, Austrian, and Swiss car dealers view the current situation and future development of the automotive retail business.
Based on a survey of over 150 car dealers, the study is designed to provide relevant insights into market outlook and dealer strategy, dealer transformation and growth as well as future readiness with regard to AI and robotics.
The study was conducted by experts from Horváth’s Automotive Team. By translating dealer perspectives on market developments, growth drivers, and transformation challenges into actionable insights, the study supports dealers in strategic decision-making, business model evaluation, and transformation.
Key findings of the study include:
65 percent of dealers believe automotive retail will remain a profitable and relevant business model despite ongoing industry transformation
Chinese OEMs are expected to gain significant market share over all regions
After-sales services, used cars business, and digital business models are gaining importance with regard to growth opportunities, while sustainable growth is seen as the major strategic challenge over the next years
The integration of AI into everyday work is seen as an opportunity to overcome current challenges in the automotive retail business but only 12 percent of dealerships actively use AI today
The study highlights three major developments shaping the future of automotive retail: broader product portfolios, accelerating digital transformation, and a shift toward new growth and profitability drivers beyond new vehicle sales.
The complete results are available in the full study report. To discuss what the findings mean for your business, we invite you to an exchange with our automotive experts.
