GHANA: COVID 19 hits Hard at Car Dealers

GHANA: COVID 19 hits Hard at Car Dealers The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many industries, but the automotive and mobility industries are among the hardest hit. Consumers across the globe continue to face severe health and financial concerns, and mobility remains somewhat restricted in many parts of the world. Many car dealerships closed, and car buying ground to a halt. By the outbreak of COVID-19, the automobile industry in Ghana faced considerable delays in 2020 due to supply chain disruptions in major automotive production hubs across the globe, leading to delays in the shipments of critical automotive components to carry out vehicle assembly operations. About 70% of vehicles in Ghana are imported from different nations. The automotive sector in Ghana is generally comprised of retailers of imported pre-owned cars and wholesalers who deal in the retailing of new vehicles. Hitting the grounds today to speak with Car Dealers, Silver FM’s reporter, Maame Yaa Gyamfuaa Amonu, solicited from the complains of the dealers that, tax has really affected their industries notwithstanding government’s addition of Covid-19 tax. “The more taxes and duty go up, the more expensive the car becomes, because dealers cannot bear the cost and so they have to push it on the consumer” one dealer told Amonu. “We cannot buy the American genuine cars, it’s very expensive so we rather buy the dent and accident cars, which has slight faults with scratches” another car dealer exclaimed. They gave some names of the car brands and their current prices. Some of the Car Brands are: Nissan Hardbody, Tesla, Lexus, Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, BMW, Santafi, Ford Escape, Land cruiser, Toyota Corolla. Toyota Corolla 2007 – GH¢35.000.00 – GH¢45.000.00, 2010 – 2013 GH¢40.000.00 – 55.000.00 Toyota Run4 – GH¢60.000.00 – 75,000.00 Discovery 2017 – GH¢ 200,000.00 Range Rover - GH¢270.00.00