Although generally described as such, the agreement between a vehicle manufacturer and a car dealership is not really like a typical franchise. For example, you are not expected to pay a franchise fee to your primary supplier, nor are you generally expected to strictly adhere to a standard business model. However, as with many „real“ franchise systems, your contract with your vehicle supplier sets out certain rights and obligations that apply to each party. This contract is generally referred to as a „dealership contract“ in the automotive industry and each franchised outlet must have one. „The main issues of denying warranty payments to dealers – and manufacturers who pressure dealers to dismiss claims (The Australian Consumer Act) are also not covered by these rules,“ Voortman said. Unilateral contracts and the practice of „taxing cars on dealers“ „are simply not possible in a country like the United States, which has strong auto franchise laws,“ Voortman said. „It is so important that these rules be strengthened before they are completed, especially since sales of new cars have been declining for 22 months and a number of regional dealerships have had to close their doors,“ Voortman said. Your business agreement also contains details about the ownership and management of your point of sale and covers issues such as business and administrative practices, contract duration, and contract termination. Some contracts are of indefinite duration (i.e. they do not have a fixed duration), others have a fixed duration, usually at least five years. You and your supplier are free to terminate the contract by entering into an agreed notice period. In some cases, for example in the event of a serious breach, a contract may be terminated with immediate effect. AADA said restaurant chains almost have better franchise deals than car dealerships in Australia, although showrooms cost millions of dollars and often stock millions of dollars.
„There are car dealers in Australia who, for many years, have invested millions of dollars in facilities, inventory and equipment at the request of manufacturers for the sole purpose of securing a one-year contract,“ Voortman said. „To put this in the right perspective, there are fast food franchisees with much lower capital investment requirements who get 20-year contracts from their franchisor,“ he said.