Carmakers usually jump-start their year in the world’s largest auto market at China’s annual motor show, displaying new models to the thousands that fill massive auditoriums for the week-long event.
This year, however, global brands will need to find a new place to launch the hundreds of new products slated for the event, after the organisers said it would be delayed due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
Car factories across China are restarting operations after a nationwide shutdown to try to stop the spread of the virus, but the hit to the supply chain and sales could take many months for manufacturers to recover from, analysts have said.