The coronavirus is having a major impact on the car industry in various ways – many manufacturers reliant on Chinese componentry and production lines are slowly grinding to a halt as parts dry up. In China alone with empty dealerships and new car sales dropping by 92 percent in February carmakers are trying to do more business on-line sending their sales staff to special three-day courses for on-line sales. Major Motor shows have been cancelled, already Geneva and now Easter’s New York Auto Show has been pushed back to August. With Italy in lockdown Ferrari has cancelled the launch of its SF90 Stradale hybrid hypercar while Mercedes-Benz has also postponed the launch of its new CLS and Volkswagen their T-Roc convertible. Locally showroom traffic has dropped to a new low and dealers, already suffering poor sales due to a lack of consumer confidence, face a very difficult period ahead, many reporting they are already in a loss making situation.

I’m David Berthon

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