IHS slashes 2020 world gentle automobile gross sales outlook on coronavirus hit

(Reuters) – Information agency IHS Markit sharply lowered its 2020 forecast for world gentle automobile gross sales on Tuesday and warned that america will take the most important hit from the coronavirus pandemic.

IHS, which intently tracks automotive gross sales and manufacturing tendencies, stated it expects world gentle automobile gross sales to fall 22% to 70.three million items in 2020, from prior estimates of a greater than 12% drop.

In america, the place most states have allowed on-line purchases however inventories nonetheless stay excessive, the consultancy agency expects auto gross sales to fall 26.6% to 12.5 million items in 2020, in contrast with a yr earlier.

Automobile manufacturing largely stays shut down in April in North America as automakers have been compelled to delay introductions or deliberate ramp-ups of a number of new autos.

The US right here has the world’s largest variety of confirmed coronavirus circumstances, with greater than 774,000 infections and a dying toll of no less than 42,000.

In China, IHS warned it will take time for a full manufacturing restoration regardless of most factories restarting work.

It now expects gross sales in Mainland China to say no greater than 15.5% to 21 million items, greater than its earlier estimate of a 10% decline.

IHS estimates world gentle automobile manufacturing to drop 21.2%, with the most important disruption coming within the first half of the yr.

Within the second half of the yr, the information agency expects manufacturing to select up, however nonetheless be down practically 8%, in contrast with an general decline of 35% within the first half.

IHS’ forecast comes a day after consultancy agency LMC Automotive stated it expects world auto gross sales to fall greater than 20% to round 71 million in 2020 on account of the virus outbreak and ensuing recession.