Currently reading: Car makers still dream of move to agency sales model

Agency model means car makers sell directly to drivers, paying dealers a flat fee for each sale handled

Car makers haven't given up on the dream of selling cars direct to customers, even as the number actually doing so has dwindled to just four.

Currently Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Mini are the only car makers of any scale in the UK using the so-called agency model of selling directly to customers via their network of dealers, who get paid a flat fee per sales as the car maker’s agent (hence the name).

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