Sonic Looks to Grow in Both Franchise Dealerships and the EchoPark Used-Vehicle Stores

Sonic Automotive is expanding beyond franchise auto dealerships. Its omnichannel process lets consumers shop digitally or in-store and helps Sonic procure more used-vehicle inventory. Management has also worked to make the car-buying process nearly paperless, place the customer with only one person for the entire transaction, and enable the customer to take delivery of a vehicle in an hour or less after deciding which one to buy. It's building out a powersports segment, which for now will likely focus on motorcycle stores such as Harley-Davidson and pursue acquisitions.