Dealer Associations Submit Plan to Re-Open On-Site Sales

The State's Dealer Associations, including Greater New York, Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse,  the Capital Region, and the New York State Auto Dealers Association, have worked jointly over the last week to craft a proposal that would fully re-open dealers' sales operations. If approved by the State, the plan would allow dealers to staff their showrooms and accept walk-in business, provided they adhere to a series of essential safety measures related to customer and employee safety, facility management, and cleaning.

The Associations jointly submitted the proposal yesterday to senior members of Governor Andrew Cuomo's Administration. Mr. Cuomo said earlier this week that some business activity might resume as soon as May 15th and that some regions might see activity re-start more quickly than others. He also said he would evaluate public health data every two weeks to determine if the COVID-19 outbreak worsened after the easing of business restrictions. 

The Associations designed their latest joint proposal to assure the Governor that dealers can fully re-open their sales departments in a way that ensures public health and safety while helping to re-start the economy. It includes requirements to screen employees for fever and COVID-19 symptoms before each shift, regularly cleaning surfaces throughout dealerships, rearranging furniture where necessary to ensure social distancing, and designating employees to monitor social distancing compliance. 

The proposal also requires dealers to keep their vehicles in the showroom locked at all times and only to allow customers access to vehicles outside in the lot or a secure cleaned area other than the showroom. Dealers would also have to sanitize cars before and after any customer's entry into a vehicle. The completion of the sales and lease transactions with the review and signing of the paperwork with the customer would have to take place in a room where employees and consumers can maintain proper social distancing.

This proposal, if approved, would be in addition to Governor Cuomo's Executive Order requiring the wearing of facemasks in public and his Administration’s guidance that dealers may use remote methods to sell and lease cars. The Associations support the continuation of remote sales as many consumers may prefer those methods especially as the COVID-19 is still a concern. 

GNYADA will keep you updated on the response to this proposal and if/when it might go into effect. In the meantime, dealers must continue to conduct vehicle sales remotely. Click here to view GNYADA’s article on “Best Practices for Remote Sales.”

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact GNYADA at 718.746.5900.