Who is the largest car dealer in America?

Lithia Motors, Inc. (branded as Lithia & Driveway) is the largest car dealer in the United States, based on industry-standard rankings of U.S. new-vehicle retail sales. In recent years, Lithia has consistently held the No. 1 spot on Automotive News’ Top 150 Dealership Groups list, reflecting its aggressive acquisitions, nationwide footprint, and strong omnichannel sales strategy. Depending on how “largest” is defined—by new-vehicle units, total revenue, locations, or used-vehicle volume—other names may also surface, but by the most widely accepted measure in the retail auto industry, Lithia leads.

What “largest” means in auto retail

In the dealership world, “largest” can refer to several different metrics. Understanding the distinctions helps explain why different companies can claim leadership in different contexts.

• U.S. new-vehicle retail sales: The benchmark most often used by Automotive News to rank dealership groups; excludes fleet sales.
• Total revenue: Captures sales of new and used vehicles plus parts, service, and finance-and-insurance income; can be influenced by international operations and commercial truck businesses.
• Store count/footprint: Total number of franchised dealerships and geographic reach across states or countries.
• Used-vehicle sales: Separate competitive set; includes standalone used-only retailers.

Taken together, these metrics paint a nuanced picture of size and market presence. However, within the U.S. franchised retail segment, new-vehicle retail unit sales remain the key reference for “largest dealer.”

Current leader: Lithia Motors (Lithia & Driveway)

Headquartered in Medford, Oregon, Lithia has expanded rapidly over the past several years through a series of acquisitions and organic growth, pushing it to the top of the U.S. rankings for retail new-vehicle sales. The company operates hundreds of franchised dealerships across the United States and Canada and has extended its international presence, while building an omnichannel platform under the Driveway brand to integrate online and in-store buying and service.

Why Lithia ranks No. 1

Lithia’s rise has been driven by scale-building acquisitions, disciplined integration of acquired stores, and a diversified brand mix that spans mass-market and luxury franchises. The company’s strategy emphasizes high-turn inventory, used-vehicle reconditioning capacity, and expanding fixed operations (service and parts), all of which support consistent volume leadership in U.S. retail new-vehicle sales.

Other big players you might be thinking of

Several large automotive retail groups are close behind Lithia in various dimensions and are often cited when people ask about the “largest” dealer in America. Here’s how they stack up in commonly referenced categories.

• AutoNation: A longtime leader that held the No. 1 U.S. spot for roughly two decades; frequently ranks No. 2 by U.S. new-vehicle retail sales and maintains a broad national footprint with strong service and F&I operations.
• Penske Automotive Group: A global retailer with substantial operations in the U.S. and U.K.; among the leaders by revenue, supported by a premium brand mix and significant commercial truck operations; typically near the top in U.S. unit rankings.
• Group 1 Automotive: A major U.S. retailer with a large presence in both the U.S. and U.K., consistently ranking among the top five dealership groups by U.S. new-vehicle sales.
• Sonic Automotive: A top-tier U.S. dealership group with its EchoPark brand focused on used vehicles, balancing franchised new-car stores with a national used-car footprint.
• Berkshire Hathaway Automotive: One of the largest networks of franchised dealerships in the country, spanning many mainstream and luxury brands.
• CarMax: The largest used-car retailer in the U.S.; not a traditional franchised new-car dealership group but often mentioned due to its scale in used-vehicle sales.

These companies underscore that leadership can vary depending on whether you prioritize U.S. new-vehicle units, total revenue, store count, or used-vehicle focus. Even so, the industry’s primary yardstick for “largest dealer” remains U.S. new-vehicle retail sales—where Lithia currently leads.

How the ranking is determined

Industry rankings most commonly reference Automotive News’ annual Top 150 Dealership Groups list, which uses a consistent methodology focused on retail activity. Here is how those standings are typically compiled.

1. Dealership groups report prior-year U.S. retail new-vehicle unit sales to Automotive News; fleet sales are excluded.
2. Data are validated against manufacturer and public financial disclosures where available.
3. Rankings prioritize U.S. retail new-vehicle units; ancillary metrics such as used sales, revenue, store count, and geographic footprint are also tracked.
4. Updates reflect mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and rebranding that affect store counts and market coverage.

This approach keeps the focus on comparable, retail-driven performance across franchised dealership groups operating in the United States.

Summary

Lithia Motors (Lithia & Driveway) is the largest car dealer in America by the industry’s standard measure—U.S. retail new-vehicle sales—according to the most recent rankings. AutoNation and Penske Automotive Group remain close competitors, while CarMax leads the used-only space. When asking “largest,” clarify whether you mean new-vehicle units, total revenue, store count, or used-vehicle volume; by the most common definition, Lithia is No. 1.

Who is the richest car dealer in America?

Across America and is worth some $1.6 billion by Forbes’s count. But like Batman’s alter ego Bruce Wayne Taylor also has a pension for the good. Life. He spent at least $180.

Who is the number one car salesman in the US?

Cody Carter, currently the Internet Sales Manager at Tustin Toyota, is widely recognized as the #1 car salesman in the US, according to the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast. He generated $1,092,000 in personal income in 2022. Carter has also broken his own sales record, selling 1,408 units in 2024. He is known for his sales techniques, digital marketing strategies, and leadership skills. 
Key points about Cody Carter:

• #1 Salesman: He holds the title of #1 car salesman in the US, according to the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast. 
• Tustin Toyota: He is the Internet Sales Manager at Tustin Toyota. 
• Impressive Sales Numbers: He sold 1,408 units in 2024, according to an Instagram post. 
• Industry Recognition: He has been featured on the cover of Dealer Magazine and is a keynote speaker at industry events like Digital Dealer and IS20G. 
• Training Platform: He offers a training platform called #SellLikeCody through Bradley On Demand. 
• Podcast Appearance: He was interviewed on the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, hosted by Sean V. Bradley and L.A. Williams, where he discussed his success and strategies. 

Other notable car salesmen:

• Ali Reda: A record-breaking car salesman who has been recognized for selling a high volume of vehicles, according to CBT News. 
• Joe Girard: Holds the Guinness World Record for the most cars sold in a career, selling 13,001 cars. 

Who is the biggest car dealer in the USA?

The largest car dealership in the U.S. depends on the metric used: Longo Toyota in El Monte, California, is often cited as the world’s largest single dealership by physical size, while Lithia Motors is the largest dealership group by the number of units sold and locations, surpassing AutoNation and Penske Automotive Group.
 
By Physical Size (Single Dealership) 

• Longo Toyota: Located in El Monte, California, it is known as the largest car dealership in the world, covering over 50 acres and featuring various amenities.

By Dealership Group (Number of Units and Locations) 

• Lithia Motors: . Opens in new tabAccording to a 2024 Automotive News ranking, Lithia Motors Inc. sold the most new units and is the largest dealership group in the U.S. by that metric. 
• AutoNation: . Opens in new tabAutoNation is also a very large dealership group, often ranked second or close to first by sales and locations. 
• Penske Automotive Group: . Opens in new tabThis group is another major player, consistently ranking among the top few largest dealership groups in the U.S. by units sold and revenue. 

Which dealer sells the most cars?

Top 10 average new retail units per dealership

• David Wilson Automotive Group. 2,572.
• Bomnin Automotive Group. 2,238.
• World Class Automotive Group. 2,146.
• Sam Pack Automotive Group. 1,943.
• Galpin Motors Inc. 1,897.
• Rick Case Automotive Group. 1,872.
• Car Pros Automotive Group. 1,794.
• FRL Automotive.