Auto Dealerships Providing Necessary Parts, Repairs and Service to Keep Canadians Moving during the COVID-19 Pandemic


Toronto, April 14, 2020 – Across the country, people are doing their part to stay home and flatten the curve as the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. But many people can’t stay home. They have to go out – most of them every day.

Those people include the medical professionals, first responders and other frontline employees who are working hard to keep Canadians safe and healthy, and to care for those who contract the virus.

For this reason, many automotive dealers have decided to keep service operations open to ensure that essential frontline workers – including nurses, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, pharmacy and grocery store employees, kitchen staff and food delivery people – have the safe, reliable vehicles they need to continue getting to and from the vital work they’re doing on the front lines.

“Given the importance of safe transportation to these essential workers, we feel we have an obligation to make sure their vehicles continue to be safe and reliable,” said Tony Kelly, Vice President, Customer Services, Toyota Canada Inc. “The service facilities at our Toyota and Lexus dealerships play an integral role in making that happen, and we’re committed to providing the parts, service and repairs our customers need to keep their vehicles on the road.”


As well as the frontline workers, many other Canadians also need reliable transportation to access food and medical services, particularly those living in rural and remote parts of Canada where access to a safe, reliable vehicle is vital. Even in larger urban centres, public transit systems may not meet everyone’s requirements and some people may be hesitant to use public transportation at the moment.

From routine-but-necessary maintenance to important recall work to the major repairs required after a collision – or even the replacement of a vehicle – many car dealerships continue to do their part in communities across the country.

“We know our customers rely on their vehicles to keep their families safe and healthy, so we’re doing everything possible to ensure all of the necessary support is in place for them to have their vehicles serviced and repaired,” Kelly added. “At the same time, we’re working hard to make sure all of our dealers and their teams are aware of the important role they play in staying safe and keeping others safe.”

 


While each dealership makes its own decisions about whether to keep their doors open, change their hours of operation, or alter the services they provide, Kelly says Toyota Canada’s dealers have been basing their decisions on the guidance they are receiving from national, provincial and local public health authorities. He says they’re continuously monitoring local conditions and seeking the advice of authorities to determine what’s safest for their employees and their customers.

In fact, many auto dealerships have significantly changed their usual business practices – from contactless door-to-door pick-up and delivery service to extensive sanitation procedures - in order to continue serving the needs of Canadian drivers – as safely and reliably as possible.

Given the importance of safe transportation in addressing COVID-19, Kelly believes the service Canadian auto companies and their local dealers provide is more important than ever right now.

“We believe car dealerships are critical in crises like these. Canadians need safe, functioning vehicles - and we have a responsibility to provide them with the parts, repairs and service they need.”

Toyota customers and Lexus guests in Canada can check the current status of their local dealership directly at www.toyota.ca/find-a-dealer or www.lexus.ca/find-dealership.

Every effort has been made to ensure the product specifications, equipment, and content on this site are accurate based on information available at time of publishing. In some cases, certain changes in standard equipment or options may occur, which may not be reflected online. Toyota Canada reserves the rights to make these changes without notice or obligation.