GM, VW, Others Bet on Facility Upgrades to Attract Customers
Via F&I Showroom
Manufacturers like General Motors, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen are spending millions of dollars to attract younger buyers and improve storefronts on both coasts of the United States.
GM will spend $200 million to update showrooms — as well as relocate or close some — in California, New York and New Jersey, The Detroit News reports. The effort is intended to grow sales and win market share in those markets.
According to Bloomberg, Mercedes-Benz and its dealers are completing a $1.6 million makeover. Three hundred of the manufacturer’s 350 U.S. dealers will spend as much as $1.4 billion to update their facilities — with the manufacturer contributing $250 million to those projects. Mercedes aims to increase sales by more than 10 percent this year, officials said.
On May 10, Open Road Volkswagen Manhattan in New York opened its doors. The dealership signifies Audi and Volkswagen’s largest investment in a dealership real estate project, and it is part of the company’s strategy to expand operations in the U.S. Volkswagen and Audi have contributed $135 million to build the 6-story, 132,500 square foot facility.
Additionally, the Volkswagen Group is committing $5 billion in North America over the next three years to further strengthen its portfolio and presence in the market.
More Industry

Charger Network Growth Slows
Despite a projected increase in public EV chargers in 2026, charging infrastructure remains a top concern for consumers as the gap between the most and least EV-friendly places remains substantial.
Read More →
Lenders, Consumers Take on More Auto Loan Risk
September records loosened credit access the most in over a decade as buyers took advantage of the conditions to afford trading, though loan applications fell.
Read More →
Next-Gen Hybrids in Sight
Dealerships can expect to see revamped hybrids from Honda next year as the company rolls out a new system and model lineup.
Read More →
Gem State Stores Change Hands
A larger auto group founded in the industry’s early years sold two franchises to a neighbor group that's on a growth spurt.
Read More →
Charging In Motion
Honda has been researching wireless in-motion charging for electric vehicles since 2025, and new technology developments have put it a step closer to a final product.
Read More →
Twin Cities Stores Sell
Minnesota-based Walser Automotive Group made what it called the most significant acquisition in its history with a three-rooftop deal in Minneapolis.
Read More →
U.S. Auto Sales Still Below Prepandemic Levels
Mobility Global industry observers don’t expect the market to return to the higher volumes that became routine before Covid but to stay well below its potential.
Read More →
The Powertrain Shift
Electric-vehicle owners are backpedaling, according to new data, with product availability driving many to shift back to gas-powered engines.
Read More →
Achromatic Autos
The shades that dominate the U.S. car market don’t call attention to themselves, though grayscale may have plateaued after a 30-year upswing, research shows.
Read More →
Used-Vehicle Affordability Worsens
Listing prices in August defied seasonal trends, rising above $27,000 for the second time this year.
Read More →