CAR industry chiefs in Scotland have welcomed Government approval to reopen showrooms in the next phase of easing the coronavirus lockdown.
Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) chief executive Sandy Burgess said: “We are just delighted to be able to talk about plans for the future. We hope that our dealers will be able to make up lost ground and help the Scottish economy to get moving again.”
The SMTA had called for the immediate reopening of automotive retailers even before Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the green light for showrooms to reopen in England from June 1.
Mr Burgess had written to both First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture Fiona Hyslop.
He said the steps taken by SMTA members to make their premises as safe as possible for consumers and staff went way beyond what had been required for garden centres to reopen in phase one.
Now Hyslop has confirmed that dealers will be allowed to reopen in phase two – as long as they stick to the necessary hygiene and social distancing guidelines.
And the minister said traders were already free to offer online “click and collect” services, provided that did not involve customers entering the showroom. Many new and used car businesses as well as marques themselves had also set up “click and delivery” options for buyers during the crisis.
Sturgeon is expected to give the go-ahead for phase two during her daily briefing next Thursday. It will allow car retailers to open up to 800 square metres of their sales areas within days.
Dealerships across Scotland – from major outfits to smaller family businesses – have been busy preparing for the moment when they can reopen their doors to customers.
They are geared up to run appointment-only visits for would-be buyers, in a way they have been operating servicing and repairs at their workshops during lockdown.
Customers will find a host of measures in place such as hand-sanitising stations and the offer of disposable masks and gloves. One-way systems with arrows on the floor to direct clients as well as markers to ensure everyone keeps a two-metre distance will also be common features.
Larger showrooms are likely to have areas cordoned off to ensure they stick to the maximum floorspace guidance, while workspaces have been redesigned to enable social distancing.
Staff have also been specially trained to adapt to the “new normal” situation, including the use of personal protective equipment and the likes of video conferencing for enhanced online sales experiences. Deep cleaning of branches, sale vehicles and serviced/repaired cars are also part of the protocols.
Eddie Hawthorne, the boss of major dealer Arnold Clark, said: “We want to thank all our customers for their patience during what has been a challenging and uncertain time.
“We’re pleased to confirm that, after the next review date of June 18, we hope to begin welcoming customers safely back to our showrooms in Scotland.
“Before we reopened our English branches on June 1, we worked closely with Trading Standards to make sure all showrooms are operating safely with social distancing and sanitisation measures in place.
“The same measures have already been implemented throughout our Scottish sites, so we’re more than ready to welcome our customers back.”
In her reply to SMTA chief Mr Burgess, Hyslop said: “Please be assured, I am very much aware of the significant impact that the pandemic is having on the automotive industry at this time.”
She said the Holyrood administration had acted quickly to make funds available and set up an independent advisory group to help the nation’s economic recovery.
The minister added that she and the team of experts would welcome input from Mr Burgess once the immediate health crisis had subsided. The SMTA chief executive concluded: “Scotland’s car and van dealers are going to be open for business. That is the statement I have been desperate to make!”
