QOTD: Is It Over for the Little Guy?
![Tim Healey](https://cdn-fastly.thetruthaboutcars.com/media/profile/2023/12/15/1375158_1.jpg?size=91x91)
One of my favorite moments in The Sopranos involves mobsters trying to shake down a large, faceless corporation. When the mobsters are told by the manager of a local store that if he acquiesces, he'll be fired and replaced by someone else and the corporation will make sure the mob doesn't get any money.
Perplexed, one says to the other "it's over for the little guy."
That scene came to mind when reading/editing Matt's piece on Penske Automotive Group scooping up another prolific Ford dealership.
Penske is one of six large dealership groups that collectively own about one-third of new-vehicle sales. The groups, in order of sales, are Lithia, AutoNation, Penske, Group 1 Automotive, Asbury Automotive, and Sonic Automotive.
My question to you is -- are these groups going to continue to grow and take out the smaller dealership groups out there?
It's a tricky question, because there are small dealer groups that own multiple stores but are controlled or owned by one person. Think Perillo or Napleton if you're familiar with the Chicago market.
So it's not just a binary of those who own one store versus large companies that own hundreds. It's a spectrum, with some dealership groups being small chains with maybe 5-10 locations.
Keeping that in mind -- do you think groups like Penske and Lithia will swallow the dealership industry whole? Or can the smaller groups, as well as those folks who own just one store, still compete?
Sound off below.
[Image: Scharfsinn/Shutterstock.com]
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![Tim Healey](https://cdn-fastly.thetruthaboutcars.com/media/profile/2023/12/15/1375158_1.jpg?size=91x91)
Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.
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- 28-Cars-Later Suggestion for future QOTD: Given the fact US road infrastructure is crumbling around us why must all new cars have 20+ inch wheels with tires an inch or two thick in sidewall which literally become bent over time bc of potholes? I know initially in the 90s wheels got bigger to accommodate larger disc brakes but its gone a little too far given the road infrastructure don't ya think?
- Jeff Keep your vehicle well maintained and it will run a long long time.
- AZFelix "Oh no! Anyway... " Jeremy Clarkson
- SCE to AUX I can't warm up to the new look. Still prefer my 22 SF.
- SCE to AUX I guess the direct sales stores weren't polled. Unless dealers are going out of business, I don't feel one bit sorry for them. They should most fear the mfrs who are eager to get rid of them, reducing costs and increasing customer satisfaction.
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