Car dealers are expecting a vehicle buying boom when the motor trade gets into gear when lockdown restrictions are eventually lifted.
Under new Government guidelines, showrooms and car dealers can reopen from June 1, if relevant social distancing measures are implemented.
Research by vehicle buying platform What Car? suggests dealers will face a busy month back, with many motorists looking to purchase a vehicle after the Covid-19 lockdown lifts.
A poll of almost 4,500 potential buyers revealed significant demand, with 18 per cent intending to purchase a new vehicle as soon as the Covid-19 crisis ends, and another five per cent looking to buy within the next four weeks.
Under the Government guidelines, car retailers are to be among the first wave of non-essential businesses to get back to work from June 1 onwards – as long as the public health parameters set by Public Health England have been met.
Dealers will have to adhere to strict social distancing guidelines to ensure public safety.
The Government announcement comes after the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) recorded a 97 per cent drop in new car registrations in April. With just 4321 vehicles registered, April is the worst month on record since 1946.
Rachael Prasher, managing director of What Car?, said: “We know from our weekly online audience surveys that nearly one in five car buyers are preparing to purchase a new car when showrooms reopen.
"That pent-up demand is great news for under-pressure retailers and manufacturers.
"With the risks of Covid-19 still strong, many car buyers want to conduct their discussions with retailers online. That is where What Car?’s New Car Buying Marketplace can help, as it directly links our in-market readership with retailers online.”
More than 750 dealerships and manufacturer groups have signed up to use What Car?’s New Car Buying platform.
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