Photo/Wenyangcheng Evening News reporter Qi Yaoqi

　　On April 27, the 2022 Auto Circulation Industry Blue Book Forum and the 2021-2022 Blue Book Conference were held in an online live broadcast.

At the live conference, the "2021-2022 China Auto Circulation Industry Development Report" (hereinafter referred to as the "Report") was officially released.

According to statistics, the total number of passenger car dealers in 2021 will be 29,318, a year-on-year increase of 3.9%.

The network of independent brands has grown strongly.

　　Four major trends in the development of the dealer channel network in 2021: co-existence of new energy sales channels for manufacturers in the same network and sub-network; dealer groups increasing the layout of luxury brands and new energy; new and old forces exploring channel changes, blurring the boundaries between models; The service channels of energy vehicles are being reshaped.

　　According to China Automobile Dealers Association's channel network statistics on 25 ultra-luxury and luxury brands, 19 joint venture brands and 54 independent brands, a total of 98 passenger car brands, the number of passenger car 4S sales and service networks nationwide by the end of 2021 will be 29,318 ( Note: refers to the number of 4S stores), a year-on-year increase of 3.9%.

In 2021, the explosive growth of new energy vehicles and the strong rise of independent brands will drive the expansion of the channel network. BYD, Changan, Chery, Xiaopeng and Nezha have made important contributions to the growth of the channel network.

　　About 1,400 4S sales and service networks will be withdrawn from the network in 2021, of which 57% of the joint venture brands will withdraw from the network, mainly Beijing Hyundai, Buick, Dongfeng Peugeot, Guangfei Ke, Skoda, etc., as well as Changan Mazda and FAW Mazda. After the adjustment, some dealers have withdrawn from the network.

　　From the perspective of brands, the network of independent brands has grown strongly, and the average number of 4S networks of a single brand of traditional energy and new energy is quite different.

In 2021, under the blessing of the growth of the new energy vehicle market, self-owned brands will become the main force of network growth, accounting for an increase of 2.4 percentage points compared with the previous year.

Joint venture brands were squeezed, and the proportion of the Internet decreased by 2.4 percentage points.

The luxury brand network remained relatively stable.

Among the independent brands, the new energy channel network forms are diversified, so the average number of 4S networks of a single brand between traditional channels and new energy independent channels is quite different.

　　It is worth noting that the number of brands with annual sales of more than one million is around 1,000, including North and South Volkswagen, Wuling, Great Wall, Geely, etc.

From the distribution point of view: the number of networks in the eastern provinces is large, and the network growth rate in the western provinces is high.

The proportion of 4S network in the county area has exceeded 15%.

In 2021, the distribution of the automobile channel network will still show the characteristics of being dense in the east and sparse in the west.

Most of the provinces and cities have positive network growth, and the inland provinces, especially the northwestern provinces, have higher network growth rates.

　　At present, there are nearly 5,000 4S networks in counties (excluding urban areas), accounting for more than 15%.

There are more than 500 county-level 4S networks in Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces.

　　The rapid development of the new energy vehicle market has driven the rapid expansion of the new energy vehicle channel network, and has gradually formed a network of 4S dealers, showrooms/experience centers, and after-sales service centers in the form of channels that undertake different functions.

In 2021, there will be more than 6,000 outlets of various types in the new energy vehicle channel, including more than 5,000 independent sales experience stores (including 4S forms).

Most of the after-sales service centers share after-sales workshops with traditional fuel vehicles.

　　In 2021, there will be more than 2,200 new energy stores located in shopping malls/shopping centers developing rapidly.

Nearly 70% of the supermarkets are concentrated in 20 cities, among which there are more than 100 new energy supermarkets in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing.

　　From the perspective of the development trend of the dealer channel network, the new energy sales channels of manufacturers coexist with a common network and a separate network.

With the rapid development of the new energy vehicle market, manufacturers have also increased their investment in the construction of new energy channels, and have chosen a common network or a separate network based on their own conditions.

　　At present, luxury brands mainly adopt the method of grid connection, and most of the new energy high-end brands launched by independent brands adopt the method of split network.

Among the joint venture brands, the North and South Volkswagen ID series, on the one hand, are sold online through the original channels, and on the other hand, they encourage agents to establish ID supermarkets in commercial centers; GAC Honda has released a new electric vehicle channel e:NP.

Regardless of whether it is a separate network or a shared network, it will face its own challenges in the future. The key is to ensure the professionalism of new energy-related services and balance the interests of existing channels and networks.

　　Driven by the consumption upgrade trend, luxury brands have performed well, so small and medium-sized luxury brands and single stores have also become the main targets for recent channel mergers and acquisitions.

The rapid development of new energy vehicles has also brought new opportunities for dealer groups, and leading dealer groups have deployed in the new energy vehicle industry.

　　At present, various brands are constantly exploring channel changes, and the actual channel models of both new forces and traditional manufacturers show some ambiguity.

Among the new forces, Weilai adopts a direct sales and generation operation model, and Xiaopeng adopts a direct sales and agency model; traditional manufacturers start with a certain model and try more models.

　　In the early days, most of the new energy after-sales channels represented by the new car-making forces adopted the self-operated electromechanical business and the authorization of the sheet metal spray business to an independent after-sales comprehensive repair factory. Spray the center.

With the further increase in the number of new energy vehicles, new energy brands have built their own service centers, integrated service functions such as sheet metal and vehicle delivery. replaced by business.