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Automobile business flipped upside-down by the pandemic, used cars now outselling new

Due to a car shortage, dealerships have few new cars on their lots, and the used car market is thriving.

BEAUMONT, Texas — The pandemic has brought many changes to our daily lives, and now automobile salesmen say is has brought a major one to their businesses.

Due to a car shortage, dealerships have few new cars on their lots, and used cars are outselling new cars.

“Right now, the used car market is, is ultimately crazy,” Perry Jones, Classic Chevrolet sales manager, said. “The price monthly has normally depreciated, and now we're at a stance where it's appreciating.”

Jones said he has been in the business for 30 years and he has never seen anything like this.

“If you take 2019, that was the last real year you did car business the normal way,” he said.

Dealerships are struggling to find new cars to sell, so they are taking whatever used cars they can find, Jones said.

“There are people paying over retail for cars, just to have a car on their lot,” he said. “I’m having one to two people a day come to the actual store to go, 'Hey can you buy my used car?'"

The extreme demand for used cars has brought more business to Classic Chevrolet, but the dealership inventory looks unfamiliar, Jones said.

“Normally, I would carry close to 400 new cars in stock. I have five,” Jones said. “Prior to, we would try to carry 75 (used cars) or so in stock and now carry over 100.”

Just like many people dealing with the differences the pandemic has brought on, Jones said all any dealership can do is roll with the punches.

“Day by day the market changes, and you change with it,” Jones said.

Automobile salesmen said they do not expect the market to get back to normal until 2023.

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