A NEW NORMAL

WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC MAY AFFECT CAR-BUYING TRENDS ONCE THE LOCKDOWN LIFTS

- Tuhin Guha

The impact of the COVID-19 crisis has been disproportionately high for carmakers. Cars are manufactured, in large operations with thousands of personnel, and are used as transportation to get you from one place to another. Both these things become very difficult to continue when social distancing measures are vital to stopping the spread of this disease.

It’s no surprise then that all carmakers recorded massive dips in sales numbers in March, some selling less than half the cars they sold in the same time last year. Further, vehicle production in India dropped by almost 15 per cent in India in FY20, a 28-year low. Aside from the pandemic, the extended slowdown in the sector and the pressures of the switchover to BSVI norms have made for some tough times for carmakers.