Signs of recovery in online auto trade but car finance bears impact of Covid-19

Online consumer interest in new and used cars is beginning to show signs of recovery. File picture. 

There are some causes for hope in the Irish Auto trade industry recovery but car finance continues its decline and bears the brunt of the Covid-19 impact on the sector, a digital survey has found. 

In spite of the coronavirus pandemic, online search interest in new and used cars increased 6% year on year in the second quarter of 2020 but represented a quarter on quarter decline of 8% overall meaning consumer interest has not yet returned to pre-Covid norms.