A vast majority of automobile dealers responding to the survey appear to be equally or more worried about the impact of the coronavirus than they were worried about the 2008-09 Great Recession on their business (86 percent), on the economy (86 percent), on the U.S. automotive industry (85 percent) and on the global automotive industry (88 percent). " This will be the greatest crisis our industry has ever seen. - Survey respondent And while 90 percent of respondents forecast a worse profit outlook for their dealership compared with 2019, there is some optimism. More than half (53 percent) of survey respondents think the industry in the U.S. will return to business as usual within six months. The figure grows to 82 percent if including respondents who think business as usual will return sometime within 12 months. If recent activity in China is any barometer of what to expect in the U.S., dealers could be correct in their assessment. As Chinese authorities begin to ease lockdown restrictions in effect since January, automakers and dealers are already moving quickly to win back consumer interest.6 Still, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers does not expect demand to normalize until the third quarter of 2020.7 For the U.S. and Canada, which lag the outbreak in China by approximately 60 days, a return to normal levels might not happen until the fourth quarter or early 2021. RESPONDENTS WHO ARE EQUALLY OR MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS ON EACH OF THE FOLLOWING COMPARED WITH THE 2008-09 RECESSION 86% 86% Their business The economy 85% 88% The U.S. auto industry The global auto industry HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE BEFORE THE INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES RETURNS TO BUSINESS AS USUAL? 47% 29% 12% 6% Less than two months Two to six months Six to 12 months Twelve to 18 months 6% More than 18 months Source: Automotive News Data Center