Are car dealerships an essential service?

They keep the vehicles of those saving lives safely on the road, says Lorraine Sommerfeld.

In this era of who knows anything anymore, announcements and edicts are tumbling from up top faster than a store runs out of toilet paper.

In Ontario, the premier declared a state of emergency, and you could tick off the essential services easily: hospitals, fire halls, ambulances, grocery stores, gas stations.

But there were far more, and their inclusion raised some eyebrows. Liquor stores, construction sites and car dealerships garnered some attention.

All of those emergency vehicles have to continue to be serviced, prompting the inclusion of car dealerships (and their parts departments and service bays) and independent mechanics on the essentials list.

Alberta’s declared health emergency “does not order dealerships to close, nor does it recognize that they should stay open.” Like everywhere else, they are mandating social distancing, handwashing and disinfecting of all surfaces.

In B.C., the Automotive Retailers Association is petitioning for “automotive repair, towing, recovery and auto-parts supply” to be declared essential.

New Brunswick has nixed customers from showrooms, though shops and parts departments are open. They are moving sales online, a nascent field of car sales that will no doubt gain a huge foothold in the future. Quebec is also pushing sales online, something Tesla owners have touted as an attractive advantage.

Across the country, it’s apparent we’re in new territory. Many dealerships, despite being able to stay open, aren’t. Many are struggling to stay afloat, just like so many other businesses. “Open for business” doesn’t convert into sales when people are hiding in their houses. “Open for business” also has to take into account the rights — and very real fears — of workers.

Kevin Zimic owns a Ford dealership in Cambridge, Ont., and is a partner in two others. He’s also the chair of Ford Canada’s dealer council.

“The front doors to the showroom are locked, but we will still carry out sales,” he says.

Transactions are all from e-leads, originating online, and there is a sales manager on site, mostly for people returning leases. Most business is at the back of the house, where repair work is still going on.

Zimic acknowledges that dealerships will be enduring tough times, like most other industries, but they are scaling back.

“I take my directives from Dr. Tam. (Theresa Tam is chief public health officer of Canada and head of the Public Health Agency.)

Many businesses have closed, and others are seeking the fine line between risk and reward.

Nigel Tapsall, an independent mechanic at Ardent Automotive in Burlington, Ont., says they’re open, but business is quiet. “We usually dread tire changeover season because it’s nuts, but this year we’re looking forward to it,” he says.

Ultimately, even if a government deems car sales essential, dealer principals will have to weigh the concerns of their staff and consumer demand. We will see more creative ways to get contracts signed, but the focus needs to be on keeping the technicians working on emergency vehicles safe, and helping frontline workers get to their jobs.

Car sales are going to plummet in the coming months, along with everything else. Tippy financial situations for many will delay purchases, and dire financial situations will no doubt send many nearly new cars back to lots.

Are car dealerships essential? It may not be the most prosperous field to be in right now, but yes, they are essential. They need to keep the wheels on the parts of the economy that save lives.