There isn’t a fixed or precise number for import car dealerships, as it fluctuates over time with market changes and each brand’s strategy. The number of dealerships indeed varies greatly among different brands. For instance, popular luxury brands, aiming to cover a broader market, have numerous dealerships across first- and second-tier cities and even some third- and fourth-tier cities in China, potentially numbering in the hundreds nationwide. In contrast, relatively niche or newly introduced import car brands may have only a few dozen dealerships, or even fewer.
Comprehensive import car service providers like Zhongshitong are familiar with the dealership layouts of various brands. If you’re considering becoming an import car agent, fewer dealerships don’t necessarily mean greater opportunities. Fewer dealerships might indicate more market gaps, but they could also reflect low brand recognition or high market-entry challenges. It’s essential to consider multiple factors, including brand influence, market demand, and your own resources.
Professional consultant answers
Elizabeth LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Compliance and risk managerConsult
There isn’t a fixed or precise number for import car dealerships, as it fluctuates over time with market changes and each brand’s strategy. The number of dealerships indeed varies greatly among different brands. For instance, popular luxury brands, aiming to cover a broader market, have numerous dealerships across first- and second-tier cities and even some third- and fourth-tier cities in China, potentially numbering in the hundreds nationwide. In contrast, relatively niche or newly introduced import car brands may have only a few dozen dealerships, or even fewer.
Comprehensive import car service providers like Zhongshitong are familiar with the dealership layouts of various brands. If you’re considering becoming an import car agent, fewer dealerships don’t necessarily mean greater opportunities. Fewer dealerships might indicate more market gaps, but they could also reflect low brand recognition or high market-entry challenges. It’s essential to consider multiple factors, including brand influence, market demand, and your own resources.
Jennifer WangYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Market development consultantConsult
It’s hard to pin down the exact number of import car dealerships. For high-end supercar brands, dealerships might be concentrated in just a few major cities, totaling maybe a dozen or twenty nationwide. More common import brands like Volkswagen have relatively more dealerships, though exact numbers are difficult to track.
Sarah ZhangYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Document expertConsult
It seems the number of import car dealerships correlates with a brand’s popularity in China—popular brands naturally have more dealerships, while less popular ones have fewer, potentially differing by several times.
David LiYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior customs declaration consultantConsult
From what I know, some mainstream import car brands might have over a hundred dealerships, while luxury brands like Porsche could have around two to three hundred, distributed across various regions.
Emily LiuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Settlement and payment expertConsult
The number of import car dealerships changes quite rapidly. A brand might open or close several dealerships in a short time. To get specific numbers, you’d need to check each brand’s official website.
Amanda YangYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cost control consultantConsult
The number of import car dealerships varies by province—developed provinces naturally have more, while remote ones have fewer. Additionally, different brands have varying distribution strategies across provinces.
Joseph ZhouYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior foreign trade managerConsult
The number of dealerships also depends on a brand’s sales strategy. Some prefer dense networks, while others opt for a streamlined approach, leading to significant differences in numbers.
Michelle ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Business coordination consultantConsult
Regionally, coastal cities generally have more import car dealerships than inland cities, given their stronger economies and higher demand for import cars.
William YangYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
International logistics consultantConsult
There’s really no definitive number for import car dealerships—there are many brands, each with its own strategy, and some frequently adjust their dealership networks.