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By: Marcus Gamo
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the automotive industry in a profound way, forcing the closure of global manufacturing centers, the cancelation of auto shows set to attract millions of visitors and drive sales leads, and the temporary shuttering of dealerships.
These challenges certainly have a direct impact on short-term demand, with analysts predicting a 60% decline in U.S. sales for April and even more aggressive declines across Europe for the month. This challenges automakers and mobility technology companies to revisit priorities and resources with the hope of a V-shaped economic rebound during the second half of 2020.
What we see across a number of industries - including automotive - are innovative ideas and creative solutions to help drive new revenue streams. And, the same will be no different for carmakers, dealerships and brands that champion a direct-to-consumer model made popular by distribution EV makers Tesla and Rivian.
With so many dealerships only keeping service departments open and available at a time when showrooms have been closed, opportunities have opened for each to look at fresh thinking to deliver solutions for their customers’ mobility needs.
One of the hallmarks of the automotive industry is continued innovation, such as technology leveraged to reduce crashes and save lives, advance zero-emission mobility and in-vehicle entertainment. Even in the face of an economic crisis, we should expect continued innovation to drive the auto industry forward.
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As the head of Allison+Partners’ automotive specialty group, Marcus Gamo helps a diversity of brands navigate a new mobility culture and communicate unique visions for mobility’s future and how transportation is consumed through smart communications programs. With more than a decade of automotive and mobility industry experience, he architects strategic campaigns that deliver impactful communication for OEMs across the U.S., a leading technology and 5G chipmaker that powers connected transportation and autonomous cars, and global energy companies that introduce L2 and L3 EV chargers.