Just two months ago, the auto industry was bracing for disaster. As the coronavirus spread, automakers shut down plants, and car sales plunged.
But the industry is starting to breathe a little easier. Factories are churning out trucks and sport utility vehicles, with many of the plants nearly back to production levels that prevailed before the pandemic took hold. While some factory workers have tested positive for the coronavirus, automakers have reported no major outbreaks. Perhaps most important, vehicle sales have perked up more than many industry executives had expected.
“At the end of March, it did seem like we were heading for a doomsday scenario,” said Jessica Caldwell, a senior analyst at Edmunds, a research firm. “But people are starting to buy cars now. June sales will still be well off record levels, but they will be OK. It’s pretty encouraging.”
A rebound in the auto industry would probably help the economy. It is the nation’s largest manufacturing sector and employs roughly 1.5 million people in manufacturing, sales and service.
