Your Local Dealer offers an in-depth look at the seismic shift within the American automotive landscape as traditional car dealerships confront the rising tide of electric vehicles (EVs). Through the eyes of dealership owners, salespeople, and mechanics, the documentary explores the myriad challenges posed by reduced maintenance needs, the necessity for costly infrastructure upgrades, the disruptive direct-to-consumer sales models pioneered by companies like Tesla and China’s rapidly rising BYD, and the car company’s themselves wanting out of the dealership model. With access to dealerships such as Sentry Ford in Medford, MA, and Lancaster Motor Company in SC, viewers gain a firsthand understanding of how these businesses are grappling with and adapting to a fast-changing market.

Set against the backdrop of technological innovation, environmental urgency, the film delves into the broader implications of the EV revolution for the economy, consumer behavior, and the very fabric of the American dream. As dealerships navigate this transformative period, the documentary highlights their resilience, innovation, and the human stories behind the shifting gears of progress. From the optimism of a new dawn in automotive technology to the gritty realities of economic survival, Your Local Dealer paints a comprehensive and compelling portrait of an industry in flux.