Over 7000! This is the number of registrations recorded in a single day, Tuesday, May 19, according to statistics provided to us, exclusively, by AAA Data, the specialist in automotive market data. While the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron must present this Tuesday, a vast recovery plan for the automotive sector, it is an understatement to say that its development is being watched like milk on fire by the government.
This is certainly an encouraging figure, since it has already more than doubled since May 11, the day the concessions were reopened (where 3,167 new registrations had been registered). But that does not prevent some caution. After two months of shutdown of production plants and the closure of all distribution networks, the impact of the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus epidemic will take time to resolve.
The sector employs 900,000 people
Not a manufacturer, and in particular the two French groups, is spared. If PSA has since the last great crisis of 2013 put the double efforts to absorb the overcapacity of its factories, reduce its workforce and its costs, and finally refocus its range with fewer models, Renault, him, accuses the blow hard. Last week, the rumor of the upcoming closings of three factories (Choisy-le-Roi, Dieppe and the Foundries of Brittany), as well as the end of production activities at the historic Flins site, set fire to the powder. Jean-Dominique Senard will also present next Friday, May 29, a cost reduction plan of 2 billion euros over three years.
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However, the automotive sector, which supports 400,000 employees in France, 900,000 including services, will not fall back on its feet, whatever the good will of the public authorities and manufacturers, if consumers do not take the path of concessions. For the moment, despite numerous promotional offers from manufacturers, the recovery is rather timid. And contrasts somewhat with the dynamism of the second-hand market.
The car stock represents 10 billion euros
In the past week, attendance among professionals remains down 24% compared to the week before confinement, at the beginning of March, according to the first observations of the CNPA (National Committee automotive professionals).
However, everything will have to be done to sell a stock which today represents almost four months of production. Or the equivalent of 10 billion euros in sales figures. In which case, still warns the CNPA, up to a third of suppliers and subcontractors in the sector could close their doors before the end of the year. 40,000 to 50,000 jobs are at stake.
