Dutch importers of new passenger cars have seen sales decline by 40 percent in the second quarter of this year, as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. Car factories had to close due to the virus and demand largely fell. This is reported by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) Friday.
The turnover of the entire car and motorcycle sector was a quarter lower in April, May and June compared to a year earlier. “This is the largest contraction in more than 25 years,” according to Statistics Netherlands. Turnover in the sector was also hit in the first quarter.
The biggest blow in the second quarter was for importers, but car parts dealers also lost nearly 30 percent in turnover. In the first quarter, trade and repairs were still dry, but in the second quarter turnover fell here too, by more than a fifth.
The trade and repair of passenger cars was the only sub-sector to show a positive development in the first quarter. This sector was also affected in the second quarter and turnover was over 21 percent less. Only the motorcycle industry really limited the damage, with a minus of 6 percent.