The dealership of the future should look very different, with a stronger online presence and a growth in multi-brand availability. Most respondents agree that dealerships are also likely to be touch points for a wider range of products such as mobility services, financial services and car servicing, particularly in the BRIC markets.
Captives remain valuable
With the recession continuing to bite, 82 percent of respondents feel finance is the most important value-added service. Financing of e-components is of less interest, but steadily increasing as automakers offer owners the chance to buy the car and lease the battery. Over seven out of 10 respondents feel that captives are an integral part of their future business. Consumer credit is a relatively new concept in China and Russia, providing a huge opportunity for branded manufacturers to expand their presence and improve profitability.