US automotive researcher and friend of AADA, Glenn Mercer, returns to AADA 2021 Future Focused to present an update of his ongoing Dealership of Tomorrow research.
Attendees at the 2018 AADA National Dealer Convention & Expo rated ‘The Dealership of Tomorrow’ as the top session of the event.
With three decades of automotive industry experience, the independent analyst was commissioned by NADA in 2015 to undertake the Dealership of Tomorrow project, in order to provide insights into the developments that will likely alter the vehicle-retailing business over the next decade and stimulate long-term planning among US Dealers.
Mr Mercer shared an overview of his most recent findings at the 2021 NADA Show. Although his research is focused entirely on the US, much of it should be applicable to Australia – although of course that will be up Dealers to decide. (see feature article on page 18 of this edition for more detail)
One thing Mr Mercer found in the American dealership landscape was that although everything is changing, the position of Dealers themselves seems to be as strong as ever, if not stronger.
Mr Mercer will share his thoughts on the likely future of factors including:
- Volume
- Channels
- Online interactions and penetration
- Physical facilities
- Rooftop totals
- Economics
- Connected cars
- Electric vehicles and pace of uptake
- Autonomous vehicles
- Mobility services
The overall health of the industry and the coming challenges it faces.
Mr Mercer will cover two main strands of developments: “inside” the store (e.g. digitisation) and “outside” the store (e.g. EVs and AVs), and share his insight into likely developments over the next decade. That makes this session one that any forward-thinking Dealer cannot afford to miss. Make sure you don’t.