A new survey suggests people will feel 'most comfortable' visiting car dealerships and garages when coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
The Behaviour & Attitudes study found that 75% of people said they would be comfortable visiting car dealerships, which were ranked first out of eight non-essential retailer categories.
The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) is calling on the Government to re-instate a click and collect service for car sales from next month.
It also says the large size of dealerships, the low average footfall and the ability to do business on a appointment-only basis lends itself to social distancing and safe retailing.
Gillian Fanning, president of SIMI, says: "Our industry, as essential retailers, has been open for servicing throughout most of the lockdown.
"We have shown we can operate very safely for service and repair, ensuring the continuation of our supply chain and our vehicles are safe.
"The fact that people are now more reliant on private cars from a personal safety perspective, we request from the Government that we can open our sales operations from the 5th of April, even if this is on a click and collect basis."
A re-opening roadmap for the car dealership sector. Source: SIMISIMI director-general, Brian Cooke, adds: "Like the Government, the health and safety of the motor industry's customers and employees continues to remain our top priority.
"We have provided essential services since the start of the pandemic and will continue to do so.
"Car retailers have invested heavily to minimise the risk of COVID spreading, and the large showrooms and low transaction levels allow for social distancing well beyond the two-metre recommendation.
"With the improving weather and longer days, car sales can be transacted entirely in an outdoor setting, further reducing the already low risk environment."
While Gavin Hydes, chairperson of SIMI Franchise Committee, says: "Car retailers, as essential retail, have demonstrated their ability to manage the service and repair of customers vehicles safely.
"The additional sales customers visiting our dealerships under click and collect would only be a minimal 10% on existing showroom visits, representing on average of six customers per retailer over the course of a day.
"A significant number of our customers will not conclude the sale until they can view the car physically in person and take an unaccompanied test drive, given the product's large financial outlay.
"I urgently request that the Government support our industry by announcing modifications to the restrictions this week and reinstate click & collect and unaccompanied test drives."
