Market: decline compared to 2019
RESULT First effects of the Corona crisis on the automotive market in Switzerland and Liechtenstein: In March, the number of newly registered passenger cars slumped by 39.4 percent to 17,556. In addition to the closure of salesrooms, the availability of vehicles is also having a negative impact on demand. After the first quarter of 2020, the market decline amounts to [...]
In addition to the closure of salesrooms, the availability of vehicles is also having a negative impact on demand. After the first quarter of 2020, the year-on-year decline in the market is already 23.1 percent.
Only 55,452 new passenger cars were put on the roads of the two countries during this period, compared with 72,065 in the same period of the previous year.
Contactless test drives
For the coming weeks, the importers' association auto-schweiz expects a shutdown of the market for new passenger cars. One ray of hope comes in the form of two confirmations from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco): both the delivery and acceptance of new vehicles and contactless test drives are still possible, provided the relevant hygiene regulations and precautionary measures are observed (AutoSprintCH reported).
Electric car deliverability
The crisis will in all likelihood also have an impact on the average CO2 emissions of new passenger cars. Sales and deliverability of electric cars and plug-in hybrids could be hit hard in the coming months.
Although the market share of models with external charging capability was at a record level of 13.7 percent in March and 9.7 percent in the first quarter, this was not the case in the second quarter.
Adjustments to CO2 regulations
Due to the extraordinary situation, the European Union is already discussing possible relief in CO2 regulations for this and the coming years.
Christoph Wolnik, media spokesman for auto-schweiz: "Should adjustments be made here, auto-schweiz will push for the implementation of corresponding measures in this country as well, in order to prevent an additional burden on the entire national economy due to exorbitant sanctions."
