Car dealerships and factories across India are slowly reopening as the government has relaxed lockdown measures imposed after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

At least 600 Maruti Suzuki dealerships across India are now open for business. The carmaker is said to have registered around 550 bookings through its dealer network and online platform. Maruti also delivered around 50 cars that were due to be delivered in March 2020.

150 Hyundai showrooms are now operational. Close 200 workshops are also back online. Honda dealerships have also started re-opening. The showrooms and workshops are expected to open sequentially during the month.

Moreover, manufacturing activities are also slowing picking pace. Hero MotoCorp has resumed production. Toyota and Hyundai factories are also back online, while Maruti Suzuki will open its Manesar plant on May 12, 2020.

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Hyundai has announced the 'Hyundai EMI Assurance' program for new car buyers.

As part of Hyundai EMI Assurance, the company will cover up to three EMIS for select customers who purchase a new Hyundai car in May 2020. It will cover EMIs for a period of up to 1 year from the date of sale (excluding first 3 months from the date of purchase).

The EMI assurance program also covers the buyers for other scenarios like employment loss due to poor financial health and mergers or acquisitions of their company.

The Hyundai EMI Assurance Program will be offered on select Hyundai models bought in the month of May 2020. It is not applicable on models like the Creta, Tucson, Kona and Elantra.

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Maruti is preparing to resume business post lockdown. The company has rolled out new safety rules for its showrooms which are aimed at ensuring good hygiene and sanitization.

According to the new guidelines, social distancing will be maintained at dealerships. Hand sanitizers will be provided at every touchpoint. The test drive cars will also be routinely cleaned.

Wearing a mask will be compulsory and the health of all showroom employees will be monitored daily through a wellness app. Employees who report good health for at least 14 consecutive days would be allowed to resume work. Dealerships will also introduce staggered lunch timings.

Customer cars will be fully disinfected before delivery. Also, employees visiting customers for doorstep delivery will have to wear masks at all times. They will also carry sanitizers.

With new standard operating procedures (SoP) in place, Maruti Suzuki dealerships have started to open and deliver cars to waiting customers.

Automakers in India are preparing to restart operations after the government relaxed lockdown guidelines to promote economic activity.

Hero MotoCorp has announced that it would commence operations in a graded manner at its manufacturing plants in Gurgaon, Dharuhera and Haridwar. The company will also reopen the Global Parts Centre (GPC) in Neemrana, Rajasthan. The facilities will be reopened on May 4, 2020 and production will resume from May 6, 2020.

Only essential staff will come to work at other facilities and corporate offices. The employees would observe social distancing and all safety measures prescribed by the government. Remaining employees will continue to work from home till further notice.

In March 2020, manufacturing activities were shutdown following the announcement of the countrywide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Hyundai has also announced that it would reopen its factories from May 6, 2020.

According to a media report, Hyundai will be reopening its Chennai factory from May 6, 2020, in preparation for resuming production in the coming weeks.

Following the announcement of the lockdown to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, Hyundai had shutdown production at its factory from March 22. While the government has extended the countrywide lockdown until May 17, it has relaxed lockdown measures in certain parts of the country to promote the resumption of economic activity.

It is said that Hyundai will adhere to the guidelines laid out by the government. The carmaker is also said have taken steps to prevent the spread of infection by sanitizing its facilities and social distancing. It has been reported that Hyundai plans to manufacture around 12,000-13,000 vehicles in May 2020.

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A video showing the new entry process installed at Maruti's Manesar plant due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has surfaced online.

A worker's attendance is marked and his ID card is checked at the entry point. Then a security guard takes his body temperature reading with an infrared thermometer. The worker is then sent to what appears to be a hand-sanitizer dispenser. After this, the worker has to pass through a disinfecting tunnel.

In April 2020, Maruti received permission to begin production of vehicles at its Manesar plant.

According to a media report, automakers may cut R&D spending and exit unprofitable segments due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report states that the Coronavirus lockdown has affected revenues and cash flows as consumer demand has fallen to an all-time low.

This is likely to force automakers to cut down R&D spending, which could put the development of alternative fuel technologies on the backburner. It is said that brands might also exit unprofitable segments by discontinuing some models.

It should be noted that the Covid-19 crisis comes at a time when the Indian auto sector has been reeling under a slowdown due various factors including GST and BS6 transition.

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For the first time in history, Maruti Suzuki registered zero sales in the domestic market (including sales to OEM) in April 2020.

Due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government had ordered all production lines to be shutdown. Following the resumption of port operations, the first export consignment of 632 units was shipped from the Mundra port.

On April 21, 2020, Maruti received permission from the government to begin production at its Manesar facility in Gurgaon. The government has allowed the carmaker to operate a single shift with a limited workforce during the lockdown period.

To avoid the risk of infection to its workforce, Maruti has also installed disinfecting tunnels at the Manesar plant.

MG Motor India has modified one of its Hector SUVs into an ambulance for Covid-19 patients. It was donated to the CHC hospital in Halol, Gujarat.

The one-off Hector ambulance is equipped with essential medical equipment including an auto-loading stretcher, an oxygen supply system with a cylinder and a medical cabinet with five-parameter monitor.

The Hector ambulance has a fire extinguisher, an exterior light bar, siren and amplifier, an inverter with battery and sockets as well as additional interior lighting. The SUV has a special jump seat for an attendant.

Besides this, earlier this month, MG had donated 100 Hector SUVs for doctors, medical staff, police and the local government officials fighting the Covid-19 pandemic in India.

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Flipkart has partnered with app-based ride-hailing operator Meru to deliver essentials and groceries to customers. The service has been launched in Bangalore, Delhi-NCR and Hyderabad.

The service will not only enable Flipkart customers to get doorstep delivery of essential items, but it is also said to help provide income opportunities to Meru's driver partners.

Flipkart claims to have setup a sanitized supply chain in order to prevent infections. Dispatch hubs have been installed with 'Ozone Air Purifier'.

All cabs used for the delivery of essential goods will be Ozone sanitized. Meru driver partners have also been asked to sanitize their cabs and maintain high standards of hygiene by using hand sanitisers and face masks. Drivers will also undergo training to better understand Flipkart's delivery processes.