Lincoln reduce 100 U.S. dealerships in 2023 and plans to chop 100 extra this yr in an effort to spice up profitability from its retail community, Automotive Information reported final week.

This may reportedly depart Lincoln with roughly 400 U.S. dealerships by the tip of 2024. That is about 40% fewer than in 2021, however nonetheless greater than most different luxurious manufacturers, Automotive Information famous.

Lincoln boutiques and dealerships

Lincoln is reportedly providing sellers buyouts on a case-by-case foundation. Most Lincoln franchisees additionally promote automobiles and vans from the model’s guardian Ford, and the corporate is reportedly providing extra Ford-brand stock as sweetener, in addition to “particular incentive plans for loyal clients.”

The hassle is goals to extend throughput on the remaining dealerships, in addition to depart Lincoln with fewer dealerships paired with Ford showrooms, based on the report. Lincoln at present has 164 standalone showrooms.

Lincoln boutiques and dealerships

Following together with Ford, Lincoln in 2022 advised sellers to put money into upgrades to promote EVs or bail out of the model. However the resolution to shrink Lincoln’s dealership community is not associated as to if sellers signed up for that program, Lincoln president Dianne Craig advised Automotive Information. Final yr, greater than one-third of Lincoln’s dealerships had mentioned “no thanks” to that program, which Automotive Information now studies as being “basically on maintain.”

Regardless of the deliberate EV shift, Lincoln would not at present have any all-electric fashions in its lineup. Its subsequent new mannequin would be the redesigned 2024 Lincoln Nautilus, as a result of begin gross sales later this yr with straight gasoline and hybrid powertrains solely. The Aviator additionally loses its plug-in hybrid powertrain for 2024, leaving the Corsair as the one Lincoln with a plug till the primary EVs arrive in 2025.