Post-lockdown new car purchases

[AudiMan9000]

Do we think post-lockdown there are going to be really good deals on new cars as people are reluctant to buy due to economic uncertainty? Or will a surge in demand that outstrips supply mean paying list price?

[samoht]

It's going to be a question of supply and demand.

Demand is reduced due to fewer reasons to travel (less commuting etc) and people losing their jobs or taking pay cuts.
Supply of new cars is reduced due to factory shut-downs or re-opening with many fewer workers to maintain social distancing in the factory.

The question of which of those has more effect is hard to predict at this stage, I think. A week ago an Autocar columnist came down on the prices rising side https://www.autocar.co.uk/opinion/industry/you-nee... - but that's just an opinion. Supply could be gauged by seeing how factories restart and how many workers are still furloughed etc.

For certain recently released cars that were already in high demand, the shutdown has exacerbated an already tight supply - the C8 Corvette in the States is an example. But that's not the norm.

Since the supply of used cars is unaffected, I wouldn't be surprised if used prices drop including nearly-new and 2/3 year old cars, if you're happy with pre-owned that is perhaps more likely where the bargains could appear.