The car industry now: brands likely to do well post-pandemic

The companies best placed to emerge in a strong position from any global crisis tend to be large ones with global reach – allowing them to mitigate challenges in any single region – and a strong brand. It may sound cliché, but people do turn to brands they know in a time of crisis.

That puts Toyota in good stead: it’s the world’s second-largest car maker and has a line-up with wide appeal. And that’s good news for Burnaston, which builds the popular Toyota Corolla and recently received major investment.

How will small car makers cope?

The crisis has presented smaller firms with very different challenges from major marques. With limited cash reserves, the initial challenge for all of them has been survival; schemes such as the UK government’s furlough programme have helped.

Morgan resumed limited production in mid-May, initially finishing cars near completion. A small workforce has also tested social-distancing measures before a wider reopening. Morgan expects a decrease in output as it adapts.

But with lower production volumes and preexisting waiting lists (Ariel’s stretches years into the future, for example), niche marques should be insulated from any major decline in demand for new cars. A spokesperson says Morgan has seen a “short-term decrease in customer demand” during the lockdown but anticipates that it will quickly return to normal levels once dealers can open.

How are major parts suppliers managing?

Arlington Automotive Group, which employs 600 people and provides parts to Ford, Jaguar Land Rover and others, had to call in administrators in May, becoming the first major parts supplier in the UK to do so.

It’s a sad example of the strain that the shutdown has put on companies reliant on the automotive industry but without the cash reserves of carmaking giants. The resumption of production should help, but firms are facing a challenge to ensure a steady parts supply to mitigate future disruptions.

The global nature of car parts supply helps, especially with production in China having started up again back in March.