Suche
Mein Konto
Sonnleitner: Two blue eyes, but no shot in the stomach”
Max Sonnleitner, CEO of the car dealerships of the same name in Upper Austria, makes an initial assessment of what consequences the corona crisis will have and how he is currently utilizing the business to capacity.
Sonnleitner: Two blue eyes, but no shot in the stomach”
On the phone, Max Sonnleitner, who runs the car dealerships of the same name in Upper Austria together with his brother Wolfgang, exudes residual optimism: "We've been operating at half-mast since Monday. We're doing internal things, taking care of the processing of leftover items, backlogs and taking care of our online presence. But of course, at some point we'll be done with it."
What is the workload in the workshop and the plumbing and paint shop? “In the workshops we operate economically; we have around 30 to 50 percent of the team on duty.” The problem: As of next week, insurance adjusters will no longer be coming to the house, so plumbing and painting work will have to wait. “Insurance work needs approvals, but we can’t get them that way.” What is available is being processed in the workshops, but supplies are missing. "We're getting along well with the current team. Unfortunately, not much is coming along. Except for fleet or medical cars. Things have to go really quickly - especially now. The classic end customer business is manageable. Anyone who has a breakdown comes, but it's not enough to staff the workshops more," says Max Sonnleitner.
However, the Renault, Nissan and Dacia dealer expects a subtle relaxation in the near future: "My personal opinion is that the reins will be loosened by the first week of Easter at the latest. Next week I don't expect any dramatic changes, after that I'm thinking of a slight relaxation." Until then, employees are instructed to use up time credits, overtime and vacation. Short-time work is currently not an issue. “But if the current situation continues beyond the next three, four or five weeks, then of course we have to talk very clearly about short-time work.”
Sonnleitner believes that the consequences for the automotive industry will be noticeable. "We will get two black eyes, but not a painful shot in the stomach. Car repairs that are not done now will be made up for. The catering industry will be hit much worse: if you don't eat schnitzel now, you won't eat five in a few weeks. This turnover is gone. In the motor vehicle industry it will be more of a postponement."