The trade magazine "kfz-betrieb" has taken a close look at the strategies of Germany's major car dealers. After 2007 and 2008, the special edition "The major car dealers in Germany" is now the third special edition on the market. The trade magazine spoke to 44 dealers about their strategies. 12 of them are new to this comprehensive market overview.



"Whether growth or consolidation, 2009 will certainly go down in the German automotive history books as a special year. Despite the banking and economic crisis, the environmental bonus brought the industry an unexpected 3.8 million new car registrations. However, this apparently successful year was also accompanied by negative headlines," summarizes "kfz-betrieb" editor-in-chief Wolfgang Michel.



Around 30 percent fewer vans and trucks were sold by dealers. In addition, many of the new and annual sales of environmental bonuses were a rather "sad affair" in terms of returns. All of this has not only left unpleasant traces on small and medium-sized car dealerships; many large car dealerships and car dealership groups have also faltered or even gone under.



The fact is that the structural changes in the motor vehicle industry are not even affecting the biggest players in the sector. Those who are equipped with good managers and employees as well as the necessary capital and a certain down-to-earth attitude to master the challenges of the future will be well off.


In its current special edition, which will be published on December 23, the trade magazine shows what makes good car dealers successful.



"kfz-betrieb" is the most widely read trade magazine in the automotive industry and has been informing the automotive trade and service sector for 99 years. "kfz-betrieb" is the official organ of the German Motor Trade (ZDK), the professional interest group for around 40,000 car dealerships and workshops. Daily news from the entire automotive industry is available at www.kfz-betrieb.de and in the daily newsletter. The parent company Vogel Business Media is one of the leading German providers of specialist information with around 100 trade journals and 60 websites as well as numerous international activities. Its headquarters are in Würzburg.