Where are your new-vehicle profits hiding?

As we all know, the profit of a motor dealership comes from several areas and each of them needs to be monitored closely if you want to ensure that your dealership performs well.

Donald Christy 2

Within each department or process, the gross profit of that process or department can be made up of many components and each of those components should be managed for the overall GP to be where it should be.

Firstly, identify the components that make up the GP of a department and include them in your budget and management reporting.

Vehicle GP – selling price, cost, PDI, Recon, provisions, factory-fitted accessories or options, discounts, over allowance, OE incentives.

Accessory GP – fitted by the dealership – selling price, cost.

Delivery Fee/Documentation Fee/Admin Fee GP – costs may include fuel, gifts, out of town delivery, number plates.

L&R GP – selling price, costs of L&R, costs of L&R agent.

Warranty GP – selling and cost prices – can distinguish between OE and in-house/aftermarket products. Could also be commission only depending on the vendor.

Maintenance Plan GP – as per Warranty.

Service Plan GP – as per Warranty.

Top Up – as per Warranty.

Tyre Warranty – as per Warranty.

Dent Warranty – as per Warranty.

Bank DIC.

Each dealership will have its own interpretation of these components and how to account for them but each of them should be visible to management so that performance can be monitored.

When budgeting for these items, the following should be considered:

Type of vehicle – LCVs will naturally include more accessories than passenger cars;

Type of client – fleet/tender/rental will influence the products that will be sold;

Anticipated OE product mix – base-line vehicles will have more potential for additional products than “full house” vehicles.

One also needs to consider what the OE model mix and volumes are as well as what access you will have to those models – you can’t plan to sell 50 ‘Model X’s” per month when the OE will only have 20 available.

In summary, your GP is “hiding” in the detail.

  • Dealerfloor (dealerfloor.co.za) and I will be publishing regular articles on dealership efficiency. I am really looking forward to sharing ideas with you. Join the conversation by sending a WhatsApp to 082-776-1887 to be added to our group.

More Dealer News stories

NADA warns of rise in digital vehicle scams

NADA warns of rise in digital vehicle scams

The National Automobile Dealers' Association (NADA) has issued a warning to South African consumers about a surge in sophisticated digital scams targeting vehicle buyers.

  • 21 August 2026
EGM boasts 28 years of growth and customer care

EGM boasts 28 years of growth and customer care

From humble beginnings 28 years ago selling ‘cheapies’ from a small wooden office to an award-winning dealership with three branches consisting of a solid pre-owned car business and over the last couple of years also featuring four new vehicle brands, is the success story of EGM in Bloemfontein.

  • 18 August 2026
Geely will make its presence felt in Rustenburg

Geely will make its presence felt in Rustenburg

Geely has joined the Volkswagen and Audi Used dealership in Rustenburg, expanding the Super Group operation into a three-brand dealership under the leadership of Dealer Principal Ryan Pepler.

  • 10 August 2026