EV dealerships review options under Covid-19 restrictions

EV dealerships are expected to close and are weighing up what to do in light of the Government’s move to Covid-19 level four restrictions.

While EV dealers can maintain online enquiries, sales and related work, Henry Schmidt of Autolink Cars in Auckland says it could be tricky getting in sufficient stock and keeping car yards open.

“Things have slowed down already but cars cannot proceed through the compliance stages,” he says.

He reckons stock may dry up, but he has yet to learn more about the whole situation.

Level four requires people to stay home, closure of schools and other educational facilities, severely limits travel, and only essential business such as supermarkets and service stations are allowed to remain open.

Hayden Johnston of GVI Electric is in self-isolation after just returning from the United Kingdom and says the whole situation is incredibly frustrating.

He says GVI has sufficient stock in the country and staff are working from home with online services operating.

But he believes the level four conditions will bring the country “to its knees no matter what industry you are in”.

“We’ve had nothing like this before – these are dark times.”

Johnston says while they are still able to ship in cars he’s uncertain of how feasible it is to import more if there are related transport and compliance checking issues.

“We were on track for the biggest month of the year, exceeding our target as of March 20 – we worked so hard – now this!”

Martin Harwood of Auckland EV dealership Harwood Cars says it’s too early to make any decisions on what dealers like himself will do and how they will cope.

“I’ve made enquiries to VTNZ whether we can register a car,” he says.

“This will depend on whether we are allowed to go to work.”

He says they will “go with the flow and see what happens in the next couple of weeks”.

Harwood says he is looking forward to four weeks at home as he hasn’t had a holiday in five years.

“So it’ll be good to be home with the wife and children.”

He hopes everything turns out well for New Zealand.

Many other dealerships are scrambling to learn just what they can and can’t do, and whether any monetary compensation will become available for their businesses.