Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F10
FIXED OPS JOURNAL
"
"I'm very concerned about safety practices. My view is you can do
some things that are logical - wear gloves, spray down dashboards and
primary surfaces, but imagine the time it takes to totally disinfect a vehicle.
And then when someone gets in it, that's basically null and void."
ROB GEHRING, president, Fixed Performance
Out of
service
Adaptations to curb virus spread
could 'change everything'
in fixed ops - even after pandemic
Livonia Chrysler-Jeep
in Michigan offered its
showroom space to be
used for a blood drive.
Royal Oak Ford in
Michigan, at right, closed
all departments, including
service.
STEVE MASSIE
M
RICHARD TRUETT
rtruett@crain.com
obile servicing. Pickup and delivery.
Electronic payments. Gloves. Masks.
Steering wheel covers. Disinfecting
supplies.
These are some of the new tools
that have been pressed into service
in the past month by fixed ops directors as auto dealerships adapt to life
in the coronavirus era.
At many stores in the scores of
states where governors have issued
orders restricting or banning auto
sales, fixed operations are shouldering the financial load. Service and
parts and body repair have been deemed essential, and
those departments have remained open with reduced
hours and fewer staff.
Based on consumer surveys conducted in late March,
Cox Automotive estimates that franchised new-car dealerships' fixed ops departments will take a massive financial hit this year because of consumers delaying service
and maintenance. Jonathan Smoke, Cox's chief economist, said 29 percent
of consumers surveyed plan to delay maintenance and service as they shelter in place.
Though business is far from normal, fixed ops directors and dealers
have relied on creativity, caution and courage as they help fleet customers and others in need of repairs, such as first responders and health care
workers, to keep vehicles on the road.
There is no template for how to do this that works for all stores. Dealership layouts, geography, the concentration of the pandemic, equipment
see SERVICE, next page
PAGE 10
APRIL 2020
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Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020
Contents
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - Intro
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F1
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F2
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - Contents
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F4
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F5
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F6
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F7
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F8
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F9
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F10
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F11
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F12
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F13
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F14
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F15
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F16
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F17
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F18
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F19
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F20
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F21
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F22
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F23
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F24
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F25
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F26
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F27
Fixed Ops Journal - April 2020 - F28
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