Delaying that auto repair could be bad move

If you’ve been delaying that car repair, Jenni Newman has some advice: Don’t wait to take your car to the shop.

The coronavirus has sickened many and has been roiling financial markets, and that’s before anyone knows how widespread the effect will be on the automotive industry. But Newman, editor-inchief of Cars.com, is among a growing chorus of industry watchers and insiders who say they expect a big impact in the United States, including on the availability of parts needed for repairs.

China, where the outbreak has been most intense, is behind only Mexico and Canada in the amount of imported auto parts sent to the U.S., according to the Center for Automotive Research.

“If you were thinking about doing a repair to your car, and I know for some people they may be delaying, perhaps it’s time to move that to the top of your list,” Newman said. “Better to get moving on this ... rather than cross your fingers and hope everything turns out OK.”

The message so far from auto companies to dealers and beyond has been uncertainty about the impact — the Center for Automotive Research notes that most auto parts are still produced domestically — but the interconnected nature of the global automotive supply chain and heavy reliance on China for parts production mean the widespread factory shutdowns in an effort to contain the spread of the virus will eventually send ripples to the U.S.

Michael Dunne, a top Chinese auto industry analyst, predicts the impact will be felt within weeks.

“China is quietly a source for many replacement parts in American dealerships. Dealers are bound to feel a crunch in mid- to lateMarch as their inventory dwindles,” said Dunne, who is CEO of ZoZo Go.

GETTY Industry watchers and insiders expect the availability of auto parts to be affected by the coronavirus outbreak.