There is hope that most of the economic activities will be allowed to resume in India, albeit with precaution, post lockdown 3.0 that ends May 18. Most of the sectors have thus begun preparations to resume operations with new guidelines, especially regarding social distancing. India’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki has already issued a comprehensive standard operating procedure (SOP) to its dealers as they have started to open and deliver the cars to waiting customers.
After a rough patch, the auto sector was looking forward to 2020 to renew the sales vigor until COVID19 struck. And now, as the world changes around COVID, new guidelines must be followed. Earlier today, Maruti Suzuki said it has re-opened 600 dealerships which were closed due to coronavirus-led lockdown and has even started deliveries of the vehicles.
Maruti Suzuki India Executive Director, Marketing and Sales Shashank Srivastava told PTI, “Over the last few days we have been able to make 600-odd dealerships operational across the country”. He also said that dealers have applied for permissions to open up in states where such clearances are mandatory. Maruti Suzuki has around 3,080 dealerships across 1,960 cities and towns in the country. It has managed to open 474 Arena outlets, 80 Nexa dealerships, and 45 commercial vehicle sales outlets.
According to the SOP, social distancing will be maintained in the best way possible, and employees will have to avoid any physical contact as much as possible. Customers will be entertained one at a time and with prior appointments and will be screened at entry gates. Test drives will be provided if customers ask for it and vehicles will be sanitized after every test drive.
