Delivery delays continue

AUSTRALIANS are learning to be patient car buyers with news that delays are forcing new-car buyers to wait up to 316 days for a new car (Jaguar XF) and even longer for a Toyota LandCruiser 300.

 

Data sourced from consumer-based online pricing information platform PriceMyCar.com.au shows that the brand most-affected by delays in Jaguar, with an average delay of 218 days between placing an order and receiving the vehicle, although this varies widely between individual models.

 

The average wait for any new car in Australia is now 126 days, although many brands are considerably quicker, such as Honda that has an average wait of 55 days before delivery and its popular CR-V SUV taking 45 days to arrive.

 

Mazda is another manufacturer that can be quick to supply a vehicle, with its average at 75 days and individual models such as the CX-3 at 56 days while the larger CX-5 takes 76 days.

 

Although Jaguar has the highest brand delay, there are exceptions. Its F-Type sports model, for example, can be had in 15 days (as an average), its E-Pace small SUV in 22 days and XE sedan has an average wait of 49 days.

 

PriceMyCar founder and CEO David Lye said some models are driving the brand.

 

“Once delivery dates blow out on one particular model, people will look at other models,” he told GoAutoNews.

 

“This has happened to a lot of brands and particularly the Chinese ones. If you look at six months ago, sales of the Chinese brands – MG, GWM and LDV – were off the charts (but) now supply of those has dried up a bit.”

 

Looking at MG, the delay is now 60 days while GWM (Great Wall Motors utes and Haval SUVs) were at 68 days and LDV on a 65-day delivery timeframe.

 

On the upside, Honda and Mazda have relatively quick deliveries. Honda, which has more speedy delivery attributed mainly to its new agency sales model, can deliver in an average of 55 days while Mazda can get a car to a buyer in an average of 75 days.

 

Mr Lye said some buyers were refusing to wait or looking instead at buying a used car.

 

“The fact is that some used vehicles can cost as much as a new car,” he said.

 

“People who won’t wait should be aware that this current situation of the extended delays could last another six or 12 months.

 

“They should bite the bullet and accept it, ideally making their intentions clear with the dealer and even putting down a deposit. That way, even though there may be a long wait, they are assured of delivery.”

 

Mr Lye said that in some cases, these people could get a quicker delivery if a demo car came up or a buyer pulled out of the queue.

 

He said that indications were that the situation was improving, though it was only a hint of an improvement that could be short term or be the beginning of a trend.

 

More details can be found at https://pricemycar.com.au/delivery-dates.