By Jonah Gjertson, Senior Consultant at Blue & Co.
As of June 29, 2026, 168 buy-sell transactions occurred across the United States, with California, Ohio, Texas, New York, and Illinois leading the states in transaction activity. These 168 transactions represented 245 rooftops changing hands, including two deals that each exchanged more than 10 rooftops: Gee Automotive Companies’ acquisition of the Tuttle-Click locations and Brandon Steven Motors’ acquisition of the locations from Kody Holdings.
As shown in Table One, California and Texas reliably rank in the top five with the most transactions in a year. Year-to-date as of June 29, 2026, the South and Midwest have dominated the transaction activity. States in the southern region, including Texas, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, and North Carolina, accounted for 52 transactions, while the Midwest, including Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Indiana, accounted for 39 transactions.
At the midpoint of the year, the annualized 2026 figure of 336 transactions is the lowest count since 2021 (Table Two). However, both 2024 and 2025 saw more transactions in the second half of the year than in the first half, which may be depressing the 2026 annualized number. Although the data does suggest that the appetite for buy-sell activity for automotive dealerships is lower than in previous years, Q3 and Q4 activity has had and will continue to have a major impact on the overall activity.
The United States will continue to see buy-sell activity among its 16,990 new-car dealerships, with some states experiencing above-normal activity one year and depressed activity the next. As of 2025, owners with one to five dealerships make up 90.5 percent of dealerships operated (Table Three). As these owner-operators continue to execute their succession plans through buy/sell activity or exit the dealership market for other reasons, transactions involving one to five rooftops will remain opportunities for buyers.
Final Thoughts
We anticipate that 2026 will end the year with fewer transactions than in recent years but may see a resurgence in activity in the second half of the year. If you are planning a business transaction, we have previously written about the benefits of a sell-side advisor who can advocate for your needs, guide you through the sale process, and create buyer competition.
Questions? We’re Here to Help.
If you are wondering how current automotive buy-sell activity may affect your business’s value, or if you’re planning a future sale, don’t navigate these questions alone. Reach out to your local Blue & Co. advisor to explore how we can help you prepare.
About Us
Jonah Gjertson, Senior Consultant with Blue & Co., is a seasoned professional with a background in corporate development and business valuation. From 2022 to 2025, he served as a Corporate Development Analyst at Gee Automotive Companies, where he contributed to strategic growth initiatives within the retail automotive sector. His experience spans equity evaluation, financial modeling, and strategic consulting, and he has been praised for his analytical rigor and collaborative leadership in both academic and professional settings.
Sources:
- “Dealership Buy-Sell Database.” Automotive News, https://www.autonews.com/buy-sell/.
- 2025 Annual Financial Profile of America’s Franchised New-Car Dealerships, NADA
