2026 Update: The Automotive Industry By the Numbers

Photo of the inside of a dealership showroom taken from above with three cars lined up next to a window.
09/07/2026
In an industry as dynamic as automotive retailing, each year brings new insights and challenges. From sales to service, every part of a dealership plays a key role in shaping the fluid landscape.
 
The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) recently released the rundown on the state of the industry in its 2025 NADA Data report. The complete breakdown highlights the biggest milestones and metrics of the 2025 sales year, showing that the ever-changing industry had another great year.
 
Before we dive into the details, a quick note: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a light-duty vehicle as “any vehicle with a total weight equal to or less than 4.25 tons.” So, the figures below focus on cars, pickup trucks, and minivans — not larger vehicles.
 
In 2025:
  • The nation’s 16,990 franchised dealers sold a combined 16.2 million new cars.
    Total car sales topped $1.3 trillion.
  • The average new car dealership brought in $76.6 million in total sales.
  • The average dealership sold 955 new vehicles with an average retail selling price of $48,205 per car.
  • Each used vehicle salesperson sold 138 used vehicles on average with an average selling price of $28,680 per vehicle.
  • Dealerships employed 1,123,100 individuals, averaging 65 employees each.
Silhouette of 65 people with the text "The average car dealership employed 65 people in 2025. Source: NADA.
  • Of all used cars sold by dealerships, 45.4% were acquired by customers trading them in for new vehicles on their lot.
  • In total, dealerships spent $9.96 billion on advertising.
  • Dealerships wrote more than 276 million repair orders, with service and parts sales exceeding $164.6 billion in revenue.
Wrench and screwdriver graphic with the text "The average new car dealership wrote 16,252 repair orders in 2025. Source: NADA"
As we head into the final quarter of 2026, the year seems to be finishing just as strongly as previous ones. With advancements in AI technology and product integration, Reynolds is proud to support dealerships worldwide with its innovative solutions.
 
Ready to join a dynamic industry? Take a look at available positions with Reynolds here.