India’s auto industry expects influx

Due to the need for social distancing, India may see a rise in car sales. Photo: Supplied

The coronavirus pandemic may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for India’s auto industry, which was going through its worst-ever slump in sales even before the outbreak.

R.C. Bhargava, chairman of Maruti Suzuki India, which sells every other car on the nation’s roads, said there is a possibility of a car boom after the lockdown is lifted, as social distancing becomes a common practice.

“If buyers become apprehensive of sharing space with another passenger it will increase demand for vehicles,” Bhargava told Bloomberg. “It’s not the same India anymore. People’s attitudes toward buying will change.”

Bhargava’s comments are backed up by data from China, where dealerships are witnessing daily sales running at levels seen before the economic freeze.

Customers appear more motivated than before the pandemic to buy a car because they see personal vehicles as safer than public transport, says Bloomberg.