Honda Two-wheelers India has announced that select dealerships across the country have resumed operations from May 4 onwards. The two-wheeler maker says that dealerships in the Orange and Green zones will be operational, as per the guidelines issued by the government. Besides showrooms, workshops will also restart operations to cater to the service needs of customers.
Honda has issued a detailed Dealership Operations Resumption Manual that all dealerships are required to adhere. Some of the rules include maintaining social distancing as well as regular cleaning and sanitation of the premises. Honda highlighted that safety is the top priority at all dealerships and workshops.
In the aftermath of the nationwide lockdown that was in effect to arrest the spread of COVID-19, a number of automobile dealerships are facing severe financial crisis. With no sales and service operations, there has been no income and as a result they've found it difficult to pay salaries and manage overheads.
Keeping this challenging environment in mind, Honda has also extended financial support to its dealer partners in India. The company has agreed to bear 40 days interest cost on the BS6 inventory at dealerships. This, says Honda, will help ease some of the financial burden in these unprecedented times.
The auto sector is reeling under the COVID-19 crisis and restarting economic activities has become critical for many dealerships to remain solvent. With Lockdown 3.0 set to continue until May 17, there is hope that there will be further relaxations post that day, enabling more dealerships to resume operations.
Vishal Venugopal
Ved Janve
Stephen Raj Antony
