BMW Expects Chinese Market to Normalize After Dealerships Reopen

   By Jessica Sier 
 

BMW AG expects the Chinese market to normalize in April after dealerships reopen, and sees China as a blueprint indicating how the coronavirus could affect Europe and the U.S., the German car maker said on Thursday.

Chinese production volumes in March are around 60%, said the company, but as Chinese factories and dealerships come back online the maker of luxury vehicles is working on the assumption that demand will return to normal.

"As dealerships in China reopen we expect to return to a place where demand is fairly stable," Chief Executive Oliver Zipse said during an analyst call. "When dealerships reopen, demand looks like it will continue as before."

BMW has suspended production in its plants across Europe, but the company said it would not request a postponement of CO2 fleet-emissions targets.

"We all must work to lower emissions, even in a world with coronavirus," said Mr. Zipse.

"There is no need for us to change our commitments because we have the right processes and the right cars to meet them. There will be a world after the coronavirus."

Write to Jessica Sier at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 19, 2020 08:27 ET (12:27 GMT)

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