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AI and jobs in car dealerships

How exposed the jobs in car dealerships are to AI, which of them AI can do most of, and which most need a human.

Jobs in car dealerships have an average Still needs a human score of 73.7 out of 100 (higher is safer), close to the average for all jobs and 20th of 37 among the sectors (1st is least exposed). The largest job here is automotive service technicians and mechanics (264,000 workers, 84/100 ↑ safer), and of the jobs more common here than across the economy, customer service representatives is the most exposed (51/100 ↑ safer).

Average score
73.7/100↑ safer

0.3 points below the average for all jobs (74.0). Sectors range from 59.8 to 80.0.

5.6%

About 70,245 people, in jobs where AI can already do much of the work.

15.9%

Census Bureau survey, figure for retail trade as a whole; all businesses 22.4%.

+2.2%

Bureau of Labor Statistics projections for the whole sector.

How the work here could shift

The share of workers in this sector whose job would sit in each band, from today to 2060.

Today
37%
of workers in this sector are in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
0% are in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
By 2045
4%
of workers in this sector would still be in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
59% would be in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
By 2060
4%
of workers in this sector would still be in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
94% would be in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)

Each job's score moves towards the bottom band (Largely: AI could largely do the job) by the year it could be largely automated, slowly at first and faster later, as adoption usually goes. Each job is run as ten scenarios across its replacement range, so every figure mixes early and late outcomes. The model stops at 2060. How the timeline works

Share of workers in this sector in each verdict band, today to 20600%25%50%75%100%2026: 36.8% of workers in this sector in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)37%2026: 57.7% of workers in this sector in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)58%2026: 5.5% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could partly do (Partly.)6%Today2030: 22.2% of workers in this sector in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)22%2030: 42.3% of workers in this sector in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)42%2030: 33.1% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could partly do (Partly.)33%2030: 2.4% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could mostly do (Mostly.)20302035: 3.7% of workers in this sector in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)2035: 29.0% of workers in this sector in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)29%2035: 28.5% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could partly do (Partly.)29%2035: 21.1% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could mostly do (Mostly.)21%2035: 17.7% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)18%20352040: 3.7% of workers in this sector in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)2040: 8.6% of workers in this sector in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)9%2040: 21.1% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could partly do (Partly.)21%2040: 27.6% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could mostly do (Mostly.)28%2040: 39.0% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)39%20402045: 3.7% of workers in this sector in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)2045: 1.1% of workers in this sector in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)2045: 11.8% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could partly do (Partly.)12%2045: 24.3% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could mostly do (Mostly.)24%2045: 59.1% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)59%20452050: 3.7% of workers in this sector in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)2050: 1.1% of workers in this sector in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)2050: 1.2% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could partly do (Partly.)2050: 20.2% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could mostly do (Mostly.)20%2050: 73.8% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)74%20502055: 3.7% of workers in this sector in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)2055: 1.1% of workers in this sector in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)2055: 7.9% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could mostly do (Mostly.)8%2055: 87.3% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)87%20552060: 3.7% of workers in this sector in jobs that mostly need a person (Nah.)2060: 1.1% of workers in this sector in jobs where AI could do a little of the work (A little.)2060: 1.0% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could mostly do (Mostly.)2060: 94.2% of workers in this sector in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)94%2060
Will AI replace the job?Largely.Mostly.Partly.A little.Nah.
Share of workers in this sector whose job would sit in each band, year by year. Updated with every release.
Show the data
YearLargelyMostlyPartlyA littleNah
Today (2026)0.0%0.0%5.5%57.7%36.8%
20300.0%2.4%33.1%42.3%22.2%
203517.7%21.1%28.5%29.0%3.7%
204039.0%27.6%21.1%8.6%3.7%
204559.1%24.3%11.8%1.1%3.7%
205073.8%20.2%1.2%1.1%3.7%
205587.3%7.9%0.0%1.1%3.7%
206094.2%1.0%0.0%1.1%3.7%

The largest jobs in car dealerships

#JobStill needs a humanEvidenceCould be largely automatedWorkers in the sector
1Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics84↑ saferAI replace? Nah.D2045–2060+264,300
2Retail Salespersons69↑ saferAI replace? A little.D2035–2054225,800
3Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment87↑ saferAI replace? Nah.D2044–2060+75,300
4Parts Salespersons74↑ saferAI replace? A little.D2036–2060+60,400
5Counter and Rental Clerks65↑ saferAI replace? A little.D2035–204957,800
6First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers71↑ saferAI replace? A little.D2036–205239,100
7Customer Service Representatives51↑ saferAI replace? Partly.D2034–204139,000
8Sales Managers72↑ saferAI replace? A little.D2036–205038,800
9First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers73↑ saferAI replace? A little.D2045–2060+33,700
10General and Operations Managers72↑ saferAI replace? A little.D2036–205131,900

Common jobs here that AI can do most of

#JobStill needs a humanEvidenceCould be largely automatedWorkers in the sector
1Customer Service Representatives51↑ saferAI replace? Partly.D2034–204139,000
2Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists54↑ saferAI replace? Partly.workers of 2 related jobsD2034–20423,300
3Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel54↑ saferAI replace? Partly.D2034–204219,600
4Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products57↑ saferAI replace? Partly.D2034–20442,400
5Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents58↑ saferAI replace? Partly.D2034–20432,000
6Receptionists and Information Clerks60↑ saferAI replace? A little.D2035–204722,300
7Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks60↑ saferAI replace? A little.D2035–204622,700
8Bill and Account Collectors60↑ saferAI replace? A little.D2035–20452,200
9Human Resources Specialists61↑ saferAI replace? A little.D2035–20453,400
10Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive61↑ saferAI replace? A little.D2035–204711,600

Common jobs here that most need a human

#JobStill needs a humanEvidenceCould be largely automatedWorkers in the sector
1Tire Repairers and Changers87↑ saferAI replace? Nah.D2046–2060+1,400
2Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment87↑ saferAI replace? Nah.D2044–2060+75,300
3Automotive Body and Related Repairers86↑ saferAI replace? Nah.D2045–2060+25,900
4Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners86↑ saferAI replace? Nah.D2046–2060+5,600
5Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers85↑ saferAI replace? Nah.D2046–2060+4,000
6Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists85↑ saferAI replace? Nah.D2045–2060+1,800
7Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders84↑ saferAI replace? Nah.D2046–2060+3,200
8Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand84↑ saferAI replace? Nah.workers of 2 related jobsD2044–2060+2,500
9Parking Attendants84↑ saferAI replace? Nah.D2043–2060+22,400
10Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics84↑ saferAI replace? Nah.D2045–2060+264,300

Related sectors: Retail trade, Auto repair, Pharmacies and drugstores, Ecommerce and online retail

How this is worked out

  • The average weights every job's Still needs a human score by how many people do it in this sector, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' industry employment data. Jobs cover 97.9% of the sector's employment.
  • Job scores are national: an accountant in retail scores the same as an accountant anywhere. The sector figure reflects its mix of jobs, not how its employers use AI; the Census figure shows that.

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