Automotive markets are shaped by where brands choose to operate and how their dealer networks perform over time. Automotive consulting helps manufacturers and dealer groups make better decisions about network coverage, dealership locations and long-term performance.
GMAP provides automotive consulting services that combine location planning, data-driven insight and industry experience to support smarter, more confident network decisions across the automotive sector.
Who is this for?
Dealer network development and optimisation. We primarily work with:
- Automotive manufacturers (OEMs)
- Dealer Groups and Franchise Managers
What automotive consulting helps you do
Automotive networks are complex. Dealerships are often independently owned franchises, meaning decisions about new locations or network changes require long-term thinking and careful coordination.
Through our automotive consulting services, we help organisations:
- Decide where to open new dealerships
- Assess whether existing locations are performing as expected
- Identify gaps or overlaps within a dealer network
- Improve the performance of underperforming locations
- Make network decisions that work for both the brand and its dealer partners
Automotive consulting services from GMAP
GMAP’s automotive consultancy focuses on the core, long-established challenges of network development and location planning.
1) Dealer network and location planning
As automotive industry consultants, we support decisions around:
- Dealer catchments and coverage
- Network expansion or consolidation
- Identifying high-potential locations
- Understanding geographic variation in sales and demand
This forms the foundation of our automotive consultancy and location strategy work.
2) Automotive retail and dealership consulting
As part of our Automotive Consultancy GMAP helps brands and partners:
- Improve dealership performance
- Understand how location affects results
- Make better use of existing network assets
Our approach supports both automotive retail consulting and broader network strategy.
3) Tools, data and consultancy combined
Our automotive consulting services are underpinned by:
This combination allows clients to move beyond instinct-led decisions and apply data-driven network planning.
Automotive industry consulting with practical focus
GMAP’s role as an automotive industry consultant is grounded in real-world decision-making, where network changes carry long-term financial and operational implications.
We focus on:
- Clear, defensible recommendations
- Practical outputs that support decision-making
- Long-term network performance, not short-term fixes
This makes GMAP a trusted partner
to anyone delivering dealer network strategy.
Why GMAP
GMAP has decades of experience
supporting location-based decision-making across automotive and retail markets.
Clients work with us because we:
- Understand the realities of franchised dealer networks
- Combine data, tools and consultancy in a single approach
- Focus on decisions that stand up over time
Talk to our automotive consultants
Whether you are reviewing your existing dealer network or planning future expansion, GMAP’s automotive consulting services can support your next strategic decision.
Speak to our automotive consultants
to explore how we can help you plan, optimise and future-proof your dealer network.
FAQs
Can you help us identify underperforming dealerships in our network?
Yes. We analyse performance variation across your network, accounting for location characteristics, market potential, and competitive context. This helps distinguish between dealerships underperforming due to location factors versus operational issues - critical for making fair, informed decisions.
Do you work with individual dealers or just manufacturers?
We primarily work with automotive manufacturers and brands at the strategic network level. However, we can support dealer groups in specific circumstances, particularly where there's alignment with broader network planning objectives.
How long does a dealer network review take?
Timeline depends on network size and complexity, but a comprehensive review typically takes six to eight weeks. The process is always collaborative and iterative, with multiple touchpoints and reviews, giving your stakeholders the opportunity to assess the project as it progresses.
Do we need to provide all the data ourselves?
Not necessarily. While we work with your internal sales and network data, GMAP can provide the automotive-specific datasets required for the study. Typically this includes new vehicle registrations, used car purchases and disposals. In the UK we can also provide the full DVLA UK Vehicle Parc. We also supply demographics, market potential, competitor locations, and drive-time data. This enriches the analysis and fills gaps where internal data may be limited.
What makes GMAP different from other automotive consultants?
We combine three elements that are rarely found together: specialist location planning tools, automotive-specific data, and decades of hands-on consultancy experience. This allows us to provide clear, defensible recommendations grounded in real-world network dynamics.
What's involved in a typical automotive consulting project?
Every engagement is tailored to the brand and market, but most automotive consulting projects focus on reviewing and optimising your dealer network.
This may include assessing new location opportunities, identifying gaps or overlaps within your existing network, testing different network scenarios, evaluating dealer partnerships and supporting financial viability decisions.
The goal is to create a network that delivers strong market coverage while remaining commercially sustainable.
For a more detailed overview of what a consulting engagement typically involves, explore our guide to what you can expect from automotive consulting.
