Tomorrow's Car Dealership Might Look More Like The Apple Store

Gasoline-powered cars could soon start to disappear, but car dealers aren't going anywhere, in part because they're protected by strong franchise laws.

• Their business is changing fast, however, as car sales move online and electric vehicles get more popular.

Why it matters: Consumers have plenty of gripes about the car-buying process. But they still want to visit with knowledgeable specialists to learn about advanced technology and troubleshoot problems.

• First-time EV buyers have lots of questions about charging and more. Down the road, pre-owned EV buyers will need more hand-holding, too.
• Dealerships that adapt best will look something like the automotive version of Apple's Genius Bar, experts say.

Driving the news: Carmakers are delivering an ultimatum of sorts to their franchised dealers: Evolve and invest for the EV era, or say goodbye.

• Ford dealers, for example, have until the end of October to decide whether to invest up to $1.2 million on chargers and other EV-related services. (The automaker wants its dealer network to serve double duty as a public charging network.)
• Those who refuse won't be allowed to sell future Ford EVs, although they'll have a second chance to get on board in 2027.
• Other brands, including GM and Hyundai, are demanding similar changes.
• They all want to compete with disruptive EV makers like Tesla, which sells directly to consumers and handles maintenance through a network of mobile technicians and service centers.

The intrigue: Some experts say automakers are using the shift to EVs as a way to thin their dealer ranks.

Read the rest of the article on Axios here.