High inventory that can’t be sold is risking the bankruptcy of many companies in the industry, automakers and dealers said.

Showroom traffic at dealerships in China remains subdued, with average revenue generated by new-vehicle sales at 64 percent of normal levels, even though the coronavirus epidemic has largely been brought under control in the country. 

Tesla registrations increased in Italy and France in March even as those markets fell sharply overall, and sales were also strong in the UK and Germany. The automaker is promoting "touchless delivery" to minimize the risk of coronavirus infection.  

The automaker will defer three months of payments for UK buyers and is offering cash back that can also be put toward financing. Ford says it is weighing options to support European sales with showrooms closed.