The car dealers suffer from the uncertainty as to whether a scrapping bonus is coming or not. Dealership managing director Fritz Grill is angry with the federal government.
Landkreis - Usually, car dealerships are coveted consumption targets in the spring. After winter, the desire for new mobility grows in many people. But in mid-March a possible rush to current dream cars was stopped suddenly - the corona virus had suddenly prevented any dealership from doing business. For a few days now, however, they have been able to expand their wide range again, but with very hesitant feedback, as it turns out.
"Our business is slowly starting up again," says Andreas Schlöffel, head of the car dealership of the same name in Kirchseeon, describing the current situation 000 cars of 30 brands ”. But he also restricts: “It is clearly noticeable among customers that they are waiting for a decision by the federal government regarding a purchase premium.
All manufacturers that we represent currently offer attractive offers with subsidies for leasing rates or financing. But many interested parties still want to wait. That is why we have created a special solution for quick decision-makers: You can already conclude a preliminary contract for a new car and then get your car with a considerable discount if the premium has been approved - if there is no discount, you can withdraw.
Car dealership: "Most customers don't want to buy too early"
Customers are even more cautious at the Eichhorn dealership in Ebersberg, which sells the Opel brand. "Some people are currently getting information from us, but there is still no real interest in buying," says owner Paul Eichhorn, describing the situation. There are currently connection guarantees for storage vehicles and good house prices. "But most customers want to make sure they don't buy too early if a government premium does come."
And is there a boom for electric vehicles, as announced by the Association of the German Automotive Industry these days? "No, we do have attractive electric and hybrid models on offer, but most interested parties still don't trust the infrastructure and are disturbed by the range and price." Fortunately, according to Eichhorn, his workshop is well utilized. "We already have waiting times here, we are working on the limit. Ultimately, repairs to existing customer vehicles kept us stable during the crisis. ”
"Even the diesel engine that many said was dead sells properly"
Alexander Blab, sales manager for the Mercedes and Smart brands at Auto Grill GmbH in Hohenlinden, agrees. “After such a long time of being locked up, many customers are happy to finally be able to get out again. And so they come to us to have their cars checked or to change tires. As far as new car sales are concerned, we have not yet reached the usual level. But the demand is for vehicles of all classes. Even the diesel engine, which many say is dead, sells properly ”.
Blab is also critical of the sale of electric cars: “Some people are still suspicious of this system, they don't have a suitable socket in their garage, they don't trust the range information provided by the manufacturers, and they mock themselves about excessive prices despite the money bonuses the government". In order to win customers over for a new purchase in general, the seller has a few things up his sleeve: "We can lure some with cheap leasing rates or low loan interest, others are happy about a bike rack that was given to the vehicle".
Managing Director Fritz Grill is really angry with the federal government
Managing Director Fritz Grill, who runs the large car dealership in Ebersberg, is really angry with the federal government. "It must now finally be decided whether customers get a bonus when they buy a new car or not. At the moment, waiting for it is a big stumbling block - the tendency of customers to buy a new vehicle is rather down. After all, we did not have to fire any of our approximately 380 employees in the crisis. On the contrary: We were able to increase the respective short-time working allowance properly for everyone, so that people don't have much less in their wallets. Overall, however, it can be said that customers currently have other concerns than a new car. ”
Wolfgang Deutinger, one of the managing directors at Schuttenbach Automobile in Anzing, reports very different concerns. As a dealer for high-priced luxury cars, he does not primarily see customers' liquidity problems or even waiting for purchase support. "In this price sector," says Deutinger, "character and morality play a role in the purchase.
"Reluctance to buy has nothing to do with financial assets"
After all, it would not be a good sign for a company owner to buy an expensive car now while its workforce is on short-time work. Therefore, there is currently a reluctance to buy, but this has nothing to do with a lack of financial assets ”. As a seller of very special automobiles and classic cars, he also finds his customers' unsatisfactory buying atmosphere. “It's not great fun to buy a very special vehicle, a dream car, and to wear a mask. A test drive is also limited, the experience of a special purchase suffers emotionally ”.
BY FRIEDBERT HOLZ
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