Last year, an estimated 1 in every 6 new-vehicle dealerships changed ownership in Colorado amid a flurry of acquisitions led by accelerated spending by public auto retailers.
Automotive News estimated that at least 44 franchised stores, or about 17 percent of the state's 260 new-vehicle dealerships, changed hands in 2021 in Colorado as buy-sells surged in the state.
The Colorado Automobile Dealers Association pegged the percentage of dealerships bought and sold last year slightly higher than the Automotive News estimate in part because it counts standalone stores differently. But by either accounting, Colorado experienced a huge surge in buy-sells in 2021, said Tim Jackson, CEO of the state's dealer association.