What is the difference between an authorized dealer and a 4S store?

[McLucia]

An authorized dealer is a secondary outlet, while a 4S store is directly authorized by the manufacturer. Authorized dealers source vehicles from 4S stores, and 4S stores source vehicles from the manufacturer. Authorized dealers sell cars for 4S stores, acting as their subordinate sales units. 4S Store: A 4S store is a car franchise model centered around the "four-in-one" concept, encompassing vehicle sales (Sale), spare parts (Sparepart), after-sales service (Service), and information feedback (Survey). It features a unified appearance, standardized branding, consistent management standards, and exclusively deals with a single brand. Authorized Dealer: Authorized dealers typically purchase vehicles in bulk from 4S stores. To earn manufacturer rebates, 4S stores wholesale vehicles to secondary dealers. Due to lower operational costs, these dealers can adopt a high-volume, low-margin strategy, often offering prices cheaper than 4S stores.