Without a doubt, 2020 has been one of the most challenging years many of us have ever experienced. Yet, I am optimistic that 2021 will bring some sense of normalcy. It will take some time but I truly believe that when we reach the end of next year, we will all breathe a collective sigh of relief.
There have been some bright spots this year. Industry analysts report that 2020 is on track to be an all-time record year for dealership profits. Some factors driving those profits include right-sized new vehicle inventory levels, lower business overhead due to many expense cuts, and greater F&I revenue per vehicle. Hopefully your dealership capitalized on these bright spots and you’re ending the year on a positive note. But I would be remiss if I didn’t caution you on some things to consider for 2021 – just to make sure you keep more of that revenue in your pocket.
Areas to watch for 2021
Inventory could be an issue for the first half of the year. According to Cox Automotive, dealers and automakers had 2.87 million unsold vehicles on lot in December – a 200,000 gain over November. While December is historically one of the biggest sales months of the year, this year may be different. The presidential election overhang and the lack of a December stimulus check could stifle those year-end purchases.