The impact of the corona crisis on bodyshops is particularly great. About 25 to 30 percent of the companies in the sector say they are currently making a loss because there is simply less work available, reports trade association FOCWA.
Added together, bodyshops have reduced work by about 22 percent due to the crisis. Because costs do continue, a large part of the companies sees their financial buffers shrinking. Four out of ten entrepreneurs say they need a contribution to their fixed costs, barely half see the benefit of tax regulations. FOCWA emphasizes that there are major differences within the various sectors. At the car window, car damage and caravan and camper damage repair companies, there are members who experience hardly any inconvenience, but also members who have up to ninety percent less work. Especially outside the Randstad, companies usually face more problems.
Due to the many working from home, there is much less traffic on the road. This also reduces the number of accidents and means less work for bodyshops. The FOCWA warns that in the near future there will be a structural decline in claims volume because working from home will be a “keeper”. In addition, cars are increasingly complex. According to the trade association, all of this will affect affordability, but also the quality of the damage repair.