QUEENS, N.Y. - Like so much else, the experience of buying a car has changed because of the coronavirus crisis.

At Koeppel Mazda in Queens, the cars that are on display are locked and the handshake to seal deal has been replaced by what they call the "Koeppel Hug".

These are just some of the adjustments auto dealers are making to prevent customers from getting sick.

"In general people are scared so we have to make them feel like they are safer in our environment than they are anywhere else and I think we've managed to accomplish that," said Mark Lacher, the owner of Koeppel Mazda.  

When the pandemic erupted the state declared that car dealers were not an "essential business".

After lobbying by the auto sales industry, dealers won approval to keep their service centers open. Now, Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed an executive order which allows in person sales, under strict guidelines.

One of them requires customers to make an appointment before coming to a showroom.

"We put together an extensive proposal to the governor's office that said to be able to offer and sell cars to consumers in a way that consumers are most comfortable doing it, face to face, here's the protocols we would suggest," said Mark Schienberg, President of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association.

Koeppel Mazda told NY1 that profits are down during what is supposed to be one of the peak car buying seasons.

Not only are sales down but costs are up.  

In the service department, new Plexiglas barriers separate customers from employees. Mechanics wear protective equipment that makes them look like hospital personnel. Customers are offered masks and sanitizer and can only sit in designated chairs in the waiting room.


"You don't realize until you do your expenses at the end of the month and you say oh that's what my expenses are," Lacher said.

Industry officials said it will take time for dealers to recover but their success is vital to the state's economy.
 
"Its a 51 billion dollar industry in just the downstate area," Schienberg said.

The rebuilding effort will rely on consumer demand and dealerships are doing everything they can to entice them.

Deals rival those seen after the September 11th attacks and the 2008 financial crisis.