Everything must disappear! The American car dealership is for sale.

For nearly a century, the American car dealership has retained its iconic appearance even as technology transforms every corner of the commercial landscape. In cities across the country, local business titans drew customers to glass-walled showrooms and large asphalt courts, where buyers negotiated the best price. This model shows its age.

The way people buy and sell cars is changing. This is happening more online, as buyers feel comfortable doing transactions remotely. It’s a change that started before the pandemic but has accelerated over the past 18 months as Covid-19 has prompted people to do more of their shopping at home and demand for cars has unexpectedly increased.