Mercedes-Benz of Lynwood, just outside of Seattle, posted record sales in December, January, February and into the first week of March. The year looked robust. Then the coronavirus crisis hit.
Now Terry Haigh, the dealership's general sales manager, expects revenue to drop by as much as 20 percent this year.
Haigh is among the many auto retailers now facing an abrupt swing in their outlook for 2020. Just six weeks ago, dealers answering an Automotive News survey shared a downright rosy view of the year. Last week, dealers who answered a second survey had a much more grim outlook.