The Society of the Irish Motor Industry has called for the safe reopening of car sales outlets as the Government considers the relaxation of some COVID-19 restrictions in the coming weeks, pointing out that the nature of business operations in motor retailing allows for safe operation.  

Under present rules car showrooms must remain closed to the public, with sales only allowed on a click and delivery basis. Vehicle servicing and repair is classed as essential and can remain open for these services, while CVRT and NCT can also continue.  
 
Gillian Fanning, President, SIMI, believes dealership showrooms and other vehicle sales outlets can open safely. She comments, “While most retailer members will remain open for servicing with a severely restricted level of car sales, it is disappointing that the Government and NPHET have decided not to provide for some relaxation of restrictions for car showrooms, which by their nature can be operated in a very safe manner. We do appreciate that the Government wants to suppress the virus so that this lockdown is the last one and this is rightly their main priority. However, our members have proven that they can transact with strict adherence to HSE and HSA Guidelines, and showrooms are a very low risk environment.”

Gillian makes the point that the first quarter of the year creates 60% of annual new vehicle sales and without this period, the industry and the state will lose significant revenues.

Highlighting the low risk nature of the industry, - for example a medium size supermarket would have 3,000 visitors in a day, while the whole of the car sales industry would not have 3,000 visitors nationwide,  –  the SIMI is suggesting the following options:  

1. Open the showrooms so that garages can operate an appointment system for customers. The vehicle sales process has moved significantly to the use of digital platforms, reducing the number of visits required to a car retailer. Ensuring that they only have 1 visit per transaction in what can only be described as huge retail areas is perfectly suited to social distancing and HSE & HSA protocols.

2. Keep the physical showrooms closed but allow for all vehicles to be sold in the open forecourts. Most processes for purchasing a car take place outside . This again will keep the volume of people travelling to very low numbers and allows for vehicles to be sold in an environment (huge open spaces in garage forecourts) perfectly suited to social distancing and HSE & HSA protocols.  

3. Allow for “click and collect” sales by appointment, where garages do not need to deliver vehicles to the customers’ houses.

Gillian concludes, “SIMI is not requesting this easily, we are doing so with the view that car retailing can operate safely for both customers and employees.”