Dealers knock at the Prime Minister's door as automobile sector hits snag

For the last 15 months, the automobile industry has been gripped by an unexpected and severe slowdown

Automobile dealers have sought the inclusion of wholesale and retail trade, as well as repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, in the MSMED Act with retrospective effect from April 1, 2020.

The prevailing slowdown in the automobile sector has forced over 275 dealerships to shut shop, rendering thousands jobless. Auto dealers do business worth anything between Rs 10 crore and Rs 1,000 crore, but most are family-run small-scale enterprises spread across nooks and corners of the country. 

Dealerships on an average employ 70-150 people. The majority of the workforce is hired locally, and the employees needn't be displaced from