THE heart of Australia’s automotive industry will remain under severe pressure for at least the next two months as Covid-19 plans outlined by the state premier, Daniel Andrews, bring to an almost standstill the ability for dealers and service centres to conduct business.
It comes as industry bodies warn the shutdowns will damage business to such a degree that a recovery could be a decade away and countless jobs – including apprentices – will be lost.
At the core of its response to the premier’s “road to recovery” is what the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) says is a complete misunderstanding of the retail sector and the diverse way in which different parts of retail operate.