NFDA joins call for dealerships to reopen
The NFDA has leant its voice to those urging the government to include automotive retailers in the first wave of non-essential retailers opening to “get the country moving again”.
Automotive retail employs 590,000 people and there are over 4,500 franchise outlets in the UK. Turnover from sales of cars is £150bn annually.
NFDA director Sue Robinson said: “The motor industry and retailers have been making enormous strides to creating a greener fleet of vehicles on the nation’s roads. The government has set us a challenging target for a ban on petrol and diesel cars by 2035. The longer we remain unable to sell new cars, the harder it will be to hit this target.
“The government has told people they should avoid public transport and return to work on foot, by bicycle or by car and the majority of the UK population will be relying heavily on cars to get to work, and on vans and trucks to move goods around the country.
“Franchised dealerships provide reliable motor vehicles – cars, vans and commercial vehicles – which are essential for many people to get to work and to undertake their work safely and efficiently. Automotive retailers need to be open to serve the workforce and get the country moving again.”
