The epidemic is roasting small and micro enterprises

Second-hand cars rely on the trading of existing vehicles, and the epidemic situation will lead to a decrease in the willingness to eliminate vehicles, and the "source flowing water" of the entire second-hand car market will be reduced. ?

Words? |? Peng Suping

"Who would have thought this would happen?"

On February 17, Zhang Bin, a Shanghai used car dealer, told think tank Jun that Zhang Bin specializes in luxury brand used cars. As the pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus has not been controlled, he had to postpone his return to work until the end of February.

The spread of the epidemic has adversely affected almost all industries, and the automobile industry is no exception. In the whole automobile industry chain, used cars are especially important. According to the analysis, although the epidemic will hit the sales of new cars in the short term, in the medium and long term, the increase in people's demand for closed space will be conducive to the growth of new car sales; Second-hand cars rely on the trading of existing vehicles, and the epidemic situation will lead to a decrease in the willingness to eliminate vehicles, and the "source flowing water" of the entire second-hand car market will be reduced.

The growth rate of used car industry has slowed down in recent years, and the market is gradually saturated. This year, it faces a "big exam". In the automobile industry chain, the used car industry has also gathered many small and micro enterprises. Under the epidemic situation, the financial strength and management ability of these enterprises will encounter greater challenges.

Extend the time for returning to work

Mention the epidemic, Zhang Bin repeatedly wry smile, said he had lost the ability to judge the market. "It's no use thinking. Now we can only take one step at a time. " He said helplessly, "Who has no pressure? Isn't this the case in every industry? "

Zhang Bin has been engaged in the acquisition and sales of used cars for more than 20 years, and was still collecting and selling cars before the Chinese New Year. However, with the escalation of the epidemic, he found that returning to work became a luxury. According to his habit, the store will open around the fifth day of the first month of each year, but this year the epidemic has appeared, and isolation and blocking the spread have become the top priority.

Zhang Bin now plans to return to work in late February or early March, but he is not sure. It depends on the extent of the epidemic, he said. "On the one hand, to return to work to declare for approval. On the other hand, no one came to the store to buy a car in this case. " He said that the car collection has not been carried out for a long time.

Zhang Bin is only the epitome of the current automobile circulation field. Recently, the research report released by china automobile dealers association shows that as of February 13, only 32 of the 3 18 used car dealers surveyed by the association have resumed work, accounting for 10.84%. In addition, 50 enterprises arranged personnel on duty, accounting for 17. 13%, and the remaining 72.03% did not start work at all.

Among the reasons for not starting work, 79% were "the time and application for resumption of work stipulated by the local government were not approved", and "the employee did not resume work due to traffic jam" accounted for 18%, and "considering the resumption of work, it was impossible to maintain various costs" accounted for 15%.

Trade unions will increase costs to a certain extent, but even if they are temporarily closed, they will not be exempted from costs. Zhang Bin's business scale is not large. At present, there are 30-50 cars in hand, and the company has more than 0 employees/kloc-0. The monthly cost is about 200,000-300,000. However, he said that if there is no surgery, there is still financial pressure.

"The pressure of rent is still relatively large, generally accounting for 20%-30% of our overall cost, which is inevitable." Zhang Bin said.

Rent is a pain point for all entity operating companies. However, at present, many housing enterprises have introduced relevant support policies. As early as June 28th, 65438 10, Wanda Commercial Management Group announced that during the period from October 24th to February 25th, 65438/kloc-0, it would implement the policy of rent-free and property fee-free for all merchants in wanda plaza. Recently, China Resources, Longhu and Xincheng Holdings have followed suit.

However, shops in the used car industry rarely open in large shopping malls. Zhang Bin said that when they rent a space, they often have to turn around several times and don't contact the landlord directly, so he hardly wants to "reduce the rent". "They are also under pressure."

As the situation becomes more and more serious, some small shops have begun to do their best to support tenants. According to local media reports in Shandong, Jinan Jixi used car trading market also reduced the rent for customers for one month, which directly led to the management's "turning from profit to loss".

In addition to the rent, Zhang Bin said that it is relatively controllable. Generally speaking, the salary of employees accounts for about 20%-30% of the total cost. However, in the used car industry, the salary of employees is largely related to sales performance, and it is acceptable not to open a shop.

"Fortunately, we contracted our business last year."

During the Spring Festival, Jia, a catering group, admitted in an interview with the media that if it has been operating abnormally, it will "not last for three months", which has become a vivid portrayal of the difficult situation of the real economy under the epidemic.

Zhang Bin didn't make it clear how long the funds would last, but prayed for "normal operation as soon as possible". "If it can be opened in March, it should be possible. But how to say it, we are just insisting. " He said.

In the automotive field, the second-hand car industry may bear the brunt of this epidemic. Sun, an industry insider who has been in contact with automobile sales for a long time, said that some used car dealers have been "crazy" in their circle of friends recently and are desperately looking for buyers. Years ago, they took the car in full and had considerable confidence in the industry.

Zhang Bin, who has been immersed in the industry for many years, doesn't think so, but he didn't expect that the contraction plan started last year made him feel lucky so quickly. "Fortunately, we contracted the business last year." Zhang Bin said, "After contraction, the risk factor is much smaller."

A year ago, Zhang Bin's inventory was still around 100, and it covered ultra-luxury models. However, in the second half of last year, he began to control the inventory scale at around 30-50 vehicles, focusing on mid-to high-end models and not accepting particularly luxurious models.

Under such adjustment, the number of loans from financial institutions by Zhang Bin companies has also been greatly reduced. He said that he mainly used his own funds to get the car now, and he dared not take more. "This is a lesson learned from the industry. In the first two years, the loan amount (industry) was relatively high and the capital chain was tight. Everything that has fallen has fallen. " Zhang Bin concerned.

Although the cost is a part that has to be borne, it will be more leisurely if the company uses its own funds. When the industry unexpectedly stops, smaller enterprises will be more likely to survive.

China automobile dealers association's Deputy Secretary-General, Mayor, also told think tank Jun that second-hand car dealers are mainly small economies, and their influence will be less than that of other industries, but they have also encountered unprecedented difficulties.

Big dealers may face the pressure of capital chain. "It is difficult for car dealers to get money from banks, often through financial companies and private lending, and the cost is high." Mayor said, "No turnover, no income, which means you have been losing money."

But Zhang Bin didn't shrink its business to resist the "black swan". He feels that the development of used cars has reached the ceiling. "The used car market is close to saturation. There are too many people who have done it in recent years, and the profits are getting lower and lower. " He had predicted that business would be more difficult this year, so he "evacuated" some of them in advance.

In fact, his judgment is not unreasonable. According to the data of circulation association, from 2065438 to 2009, the cumulative transaction volume of used cars in China was 149228 million, up by 7.96% year-on-year. In the past three years, the growth rate of used car transactions was 1 1.46%, 19.33% and 10.33% respectively. The overall situation of the industry is not optimistic, and innovative enterprises are also seeking adjustment. In June this year, 5438+1mid-October, melon seeds used cars were exposed to layoffs and pulled out of the store.

The epidemic is another blow to the used car industry. Recently, Yao, founder and CEO of Dasou Car, pointed out in an interview with the media that the epidemic will lead to a decline in the overall demand for used cars because "the desire to eliminate used cars has decreased". "This market is actually available for sale, but a good car source itself is scarce, and there will not be such a large transaction volume under the epidemic." Yao said to me.

In order to further promote the development of the used car market, people in the industry call for the complete abolition of the restrictions on moving, the reform of the collection method of value-added tax, and the promotion of the temporary registration system. These measures will solve the shackles of the development of used cars from the institutional level, but for the current small and micro enterprises, as Zhang Bin said, "the key is to have business."

This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.