European car sales points grow with new entrants

The number of car sales points in the European Union and the United Kingdom has increased to 44,947 in 2026, up from 43,894 in 2025. This growth is mainly due to new car brands, especially from China, which have added over 1,700 new sales locations.

New brands drive expansion

Eight new car brands, including Chery, Geely, and Nio, are contributing to the increase in sales points. These brands have added 1,769 locations, while other new entrants like BYD and MG have expanded their networks by an additional 1,151 locations.

Traditional brands lose sales points

The number of main sales points for traditional car brands has decreased from 47,896 in 2010 to 35,764 in 2026, a drop of more than 25%. Service networks for traditional brands have also declined significantly, from 95,230 to 72,514 locations.

Some traditional brands are growing

While many traditional brands are reducing their sales points, a few are expanding. Porsche and Lexus have both increased their commercial and after-sales networks between 2025 and 2026. Other brands like Ford and Opel have reduced their networks, but not as drastically.

Premium brands cut sales points but increase sales

German premium brands such as BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz have all reduced their main sales points by around 4% to 7%. However, their average sales per dealership have increased, with Mercedes-Benz even seeing higher sales despite fewer new car registrations.

France has a different market structure

In France, the number of secondary sales points is high, allowing for a large commercial network but leading to lower productivity per main sales point. In 2026, a French dealership sells about 250 new vehicles per year, compared to over 300 in Germany and Italy and nearly 480 in the United Kingdom.

Stellantis shares sales locations

Stellantis, a major car manufacturer, is sharing its sales locations with other brands in its family and with Leapmotor. Over half of its sales points are shared with other brands, indicating a focus on cost efficiency and profitability.

New brands expand faster than sales

New entrants like MG and Omoda & Jaecoo are expanding their sales networks quickly, even if their sales per dealership are still relatively low. Omoda & Jaecoo, for example, has grown its network from 189 locations in 2024 to 685 in 2026.

Future challenges for European car distribution

The ICDP study suggests that more new car brands may enter the European market, increasing competition. Traditional brands are shrinking their networks, while new entrants are expanding rapidly, leading to a more crowded and complex distribution landscape.