MarketCheck maintains a comprehensive dealership directory that enables accurate inventory attribution, market analysis, and data quality across our automotive dataset. Our dealership management system classifies dealers into structured categories, tracks organizational relationships, and ensures data consistency through systematic monitoring and reconciliation processes.
MarketCheck organizes dealers into five distinct categories based on their organizational structure and business models:
Large organizations operating multiple dealerships where each location maintains its own dedicated website. These groups typically list all their dealerships on a main locations page.
Example: Lithia Motors operates 600+ individual dealer websites across multiple brands and markets.
Previously independent dealership groups that have been acquired by larger parent organizations while maintaining some operational identity and branding.
Example: Suburban Collection was acquired by Lithia Motors but continues operating under its original brand identity.
Multi-location operations under unified branding where individual locations do not maintain separate websites. All inventory is presented through a single website.
Example: AutoNation USA lists vehicles from all locations through one centralized website.
Platforms that consolidate vehicle listings from multiple external dealer websites without maintaining their own inventory.
Independent dealers operating single or multiple locations under unified management, including:
MarketCheck tracks complex dealership hierarchies through structured relationship fields that maintain both current organizational structure and historical acquisition data.
When dealership groups acquire other groups, we preserve both the current parent organization and the original group identity:
Direct membership: When a dealer belongs directly to a parent group
Acquisition relationship: When a dealer belongs to an acquired group
This structure allows for accurate organizational analysis while maintaining historical context for market research and competitive intelligence.
MarketCheck continuously monitors the automotive market to identify new dealers and organizational changes:
New dealer discovery: Systematic internet scanning identifies websites with automotive inventory Group identification: Monthly analysis of location pages and industry publications identifies new dealership groups Acquisition tracking: Integration with industry sources like Automotive News tracks mergers and acquisitions
When dealer information changes, MarketCheck applies consistent logic to maintain data integrity:
| Change Type | ID Management | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| New dealer | Create all new IDs | Previously unknown dealer website |
| URL redirect | Retain dealer/location, create website ID | Domain change, same location |
| Address change | Retain dealer/website, update location | Physical relocation |
| Complete transformation | Update all IDs | Both domain and address change |
Daily monitoring: Automated systems track website accessibility and inventory availability Monthly reconciliation: Systematic review identifies new groups, acquisitions, and status changes Continuous validation: Address matching, duplicate detection, and relationship verification ensure data accuracy
Proper dealership management directly affects inventory data quality and attribution:
This comprehensive dealership management system forms the foundation for MarketCheck's high-quality automotive data platform, ensuring that our inventory data accurately reflects market reality and dealer relationships.