Auto sales plunged 30-percent in the second quarter as car makers offer deep discounts and other incentives to help those hit hard by the COVID-19 lock downs.

Ford Motor Company is allowing customers who get laid off to return their new car within a year. Volkswagen is waiving payments for up to six months. Meanwhile, General Motors is continuing incentives to lure customers.

“We have zero percent for 72 months on most vehicles, and up to 20-percent off 2020 model vehicles,” says Jeff Sebastian, owner of Classic Chevrolet of Sugar Land and Classic Chevrolet Highway 6.

Sebastian says sales of the Silverado have helped soften the blow. And customers have embraced online car shopping. “We've actually seen a 180-percent increase in our online sales in regards to door-to-door service.”

And people who typically use ride sharing services are now buying their own vehicle out of fear of COVID-19.

“Surprisingly, ever since this crisis started a few months ago, business has been pretty steady,” says Sebastian. “People still need to get from point A to point B and it sounds like people are getting back to work, so we're optimistic about the remainder of the year.”

Jimmy Barrett

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