Job losses worse than last year’s auto slowdown: FADA

New Delhi

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), however, said a clear picture will emerge only after the end of this month when it will roll out a survey to understand how its dealer members are planning with regards to reduction of outlets and manpower.

Asked if there is a fear that there could be bigger job losses in dealerships due to the COVID-19 impact than 2019 when the automotive industry was hit by a prolonged slowdown, FADA President Ashish Harsharaj Kale said: “Yes, if demand doesn’t pick up. Obviously.” Between May and July last year, the automobiles dealerships across the country shed around 2 lakh jobs to tide over the impact of an unprecedented sales slump. Kale, however, said, “To understand the kind of job losses we are staring at (due to COVID-19), it will only be (possible) after this month. You can’t really gauge the demand now.”