Many two-wheeler owners keen upgrade to cars post COVID-19

A survey by carandbike.com has shown that many two-wheeler owners in India will be upgrading to cars to be their mode of transport post COVID-19 in view of safety and health concerns.

The survey, done in association with Brandscapes Worldwide, and released in May 2020, talked to over 1,000 customers of carandbike and over 100 dealers of new and pre-owned car dealers to get their views on the impact of the Coronavirus in the country’s auto sector. The study covered cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Indore.

While the fear of infection spreading in public transport has led the public to prefer private vehicles, the new norm of social distancing has changed the mindset of people. According to the survey, 25 per cent of bike owners have said that they will be upgrading to a car as their mode of transport in the post COVID world. And 71 per cent who had made enquiries before the lockdown, will be going ahead with a bike purchase even if that will put a strain on their budget.

The study discovered that around 73 per cent of those who want to buy a bike will do so within three months after lockdown gets over and 48 per cent will make their bike purchase within a month post lockdown. The time frame to purchase post lockdown is comparatively lesser in non-metro regions to the urban counterparts.

23 per cent of the consumers have said that they will immediately go for a purchase once the lockdown ends while 12 per cent have said that they will wait for 15 days for the same. Customers who are willing to make a vehicle purchase within a month and within 1-3 months form 13 per cent and 16 per cent respectively. 16 per cent have said they will purchase a vehicle between 3 to 6 months.

Brands like Honda, Royal Enfield, Hero Motocorp, TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto take the top five spots for the most inquired brands before and during lockdown.