The automobile sector is one among the many sectors, which has been severely hit due to the lockdown imposed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Though, as soon as the lockdown was completely lifted in July, the car retailers recommenced operations with enhanced safety guidelines.To get more auto finance news, you can visit shine news official website.
Scores of people have lost their jobs due to the economic impact of the novel coronavirus. In general, people have gone into savings mode and are refraining themselves from the non-essential expenditure. However, according to the latest release from Experian (LON: EXPN), a global data analytics firm, there is a sigh of relief for the automobile sector as there is a huge rise in car finance applications for the month of July and August in comparison to previous months.
It seems that the battered sector is about to breathe a new lease of life. According to the data, there has been a considerable amount of surge in car finance applications. There is a section of the society whose income seems to be unaffected by the coronavirus crisis and who can afford to buy. Moreover, there are people who are uncomfortable using public transport as they want to avoid the risk of falling prey to the contagious virus.
The showrooms have reopened in June. Since then, car finance applications including both PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) and HP (Hire Purchase) agreements have risen considerably in contrast to the same period in 2019.
July witnessed a huge jump of 27.7 per cent in the number of car
finance applications in comparison to the 2019’s figures. In addition,
the first three weeks of August witnessed an increase of 18.6 per cent
in car finance applications due to the release of pent up demand. Also,
according to the UK’s largest credit check group, many people have
searched for ways to finance a car purchase in the coming weeks on its
online platform, which facilitates car finance deals.
The car manufacturing output for the UK had declined by more than 20 per
cent in July, and close to 86,000 units were rolled off the production
lines, as reported by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders,
which is the apex trade body.
Nearly all factories reopened with the ease in global lockdown measures, consequently, the month of July witnessed the rise in production levels as well. However, as per the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) data, it seems the shocks of the ongoing economic uncertainty coupled with the social distancing measures made its impact and the output remained low.
Production for the UK market witnessed a modest recovery in the month of July when compared to previous months of May and June, as a majority of the car showrooms of the country were able to open all over. Car exports declined, but the numbers were slightly less substantial -16.8 per cent to 72,262 units in July. The sector witnessed the demand for the latest cutting-edge models in the overseas market.
On the year to date scale, the coronavirus pandemic has severely dampened the UK market, demonstrating a loss of 307,707 cars (YoY), while the overall production turned lower by 39.7 per cent. In the year till July, overseas shipments suffered a sharp setback, declining by 38.5 per cent to 381,273 pieces.
The Wall