Minority-Owned Dealership Count in U.S. Shrinks 2%

The number of minority-owned car dealership locations in the U.S. slipped nearly 2% to 1,096 stores in 2014, according to the National Assn. of Minority Automobile Dealers.

But the shrinkage was due primarily to the acquisition of a Chinese-owned group of 27 dealerships by Lithia Motors Inc. Changes in how ownership is defined also contributed to last year's decline.

NAMAD reports 5% gains in 2014 for Hispanic and Native American dealerships to 529 and 100, respectively. But those owned by African-American and Asian-Americans dropped 5% to 258 and 15% to 209, respectively.

The trade group says its 2014 analysis includes stores at least 51% owned by a minority and those in which a minority owner with a smaller stake is likely to acquire the business within seven years. But NAMAD tells Automotive News its latest tally dropped "quite a few" dealerships controlled by non-U.S. citizens that had been included previously.