Open boxes, lowered windows and locked doors. Since the reopening of the Citroën Sodiam dealership in Ferns (Ille-et-Vilaine), on May 11, the protocol imposed by the manufacturer is strict.
This Tuesday, May 26 in the afternoon, it’s not the crowd around C5 Aircross, produced at La Janais (Reindeer), but not enough to shower the enthusiasm of Anthony Fixot: Auto experts had predicted the worst for us on the recovery, and we sold almost thirty cars in a fortnight. New vehicles, rather high-end, with high levels of finishes. The first Friday was worthy of an open day
, the director is still surprised.
The market boosted by individuals
Projects matured before containment were not stopped by crisis. After two months of stopping, it’s not bad, recognizes François Chatellier, the manager of the Renault JC Guilmault dealership in Fougères. The fact that we said the French could go on vacation this summer has certainly helped us make these sales happen.
Loïc Pirard, advisor at Toyota also confirms a boom in the second-hand market
.
Results achieved in large part thanks to individuals, sometimes enticed by rumors of exceptional discounts, most often unfounded. “In the first week, customers came back and asked: Where are the cars at – 30%? Remembers Anthony Fixot. It’s annoying, but it brought people. It’s up to us to be good at teaching and converting these visits into sales.
If there can be discounts on stock and end-of-life vehicles like a Toyota Yaris, for example, there is no question of breaking prices without reason. The factories did not run for two months and we therefore do not necessarily have more stocks than before confinement, “underlines François Chatellier. “Of course, we need to be big, but we have to keep our margin.
A bonus to extend the momentum
But the situation is not necessarily as good across the country. The National Council of Automobile Professionals announces a 24% drop in attendance in showrooms the week of May 18 compared to the week before confinement.
In the region, the market is doing well. Brittany has always sold more
, notes François Chatellier. The PSA West regional office is a locomotive in France
, confirms Léandre Aubrée, of Peugeot Gémy Fougères.
The director also welcomes the announcementsEmmanuel Macron with the increase in the ecological bonus for electric vehicles and the plug-in hybrid to extend this dynamic. These are cars with a high list price, which could scare some customers. We already had a lot of requests on the 208 electric.
Anthony Fixot is less enthusiastic. He hoped that this stimulus plan is not just for the hybrid and the electric
. Vehicles representing only 7% of registrations in 2019. However Citroën will have nothing in the catalog before September and the C5 Aircross hybrid.
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