Between repairs that were not carried out during confinement, departures on vacation and vehicles that suffered from forced immobilization for three months, auto repair professionals have no shortage of work… and customers. A phenomenon which has lasted since the end of confinement.

REPORTAGE

Garage owners do not know the crisis. As the list of social plans continues to grow, particularly in the automotive sector, repair professionals are overwhelmed with demand. June was a record month, both in the workshop and on the internet. The iDGARAGES.com site, for example, which brings together nearly 4,000 garages in France, saw its meeting requests explode by more than 70% compared to June 2019. 

In the Renault Athis Nationale garage, we are busy at the reception, where the phone keeps ringing, but also in the workshop. However, on the National 7 which crosses the city of Athis-Mons, in Essonne, there is no shortage of garages. But demand is strong. "For the past two months, we've been around 2 hours a day more or less," says Nicolas, the boss, delighted to have seen his turnover double last month. 

"Vehicles have suffered greatly from confinement"

There are many reasons for this influx into garages. First, there are "all those who could not make their repairs during confinement," says the mechanic. And on the eve of a French holiday this year, motorists need their vehicle more than ever. Another observation made by Nicolas: "the vehicles have suffered a lot from confinement". The garage therefore had to resolve many battery problems. "Automobile level, we are served," he concludes.

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This increase in activity will allow the garage to absorb the losses linked to confinement because, although authorized to open during this period, customers had literally deserted the workshop. "During confinement, we didn't even do 5% of what we usually do," explains the boss, Nicolas. "But we're not complaining because we're going to be able to save our turnover for the year," he says. Nicolas is now considering hiring to avoid delays and dissatisfied clients.