Production slowdowns amid an increase in demand have seen new-car wait times stretch between six months and two years. Now some companies have stopped taking orders until they clear the backlog.
Are you waiting for a new car and wondering why it is taking so long – and becoming increasingly frustrated by vague updates on arrival timing? You’re not alone.
Production slowdowns and shipping bottlenecks have crippled the car industry globally as demand hits record highs.
Never before has there been so much uncertainty across the industry – and countless queues of people waiting for new cars.
The car industry is working overtime to reduce delays – and has previously forecast a number of times over the past couple of years we would soon be past the worst.
But for now there remains no end in sight to the unpredictability of new-car production and showroom stock.
Car assembly lines have over the past two years have repeatedly been interrupted by COVID-19 illnesses of factory workers – both at the parts suppliers and the vehicle manufacturers.
And our ports are struggling to manage the unusually inconsistent ebb and flow of car-carrying ships, which either arrive all at once or are delayed.
Before COVID, most car companies and car dealers could determine with a reasonable amount of accuracy where a customer car was in the production queue, when it gets on a ship, and when it docks in Australia.
But for the past two years, car dealers and car companies have been playing a guessing game because of intermittent factory shutdowns – and shipping companies have had to grapple with inconsistent volumes of cars to freight.
The result: whatever information the car company shares with the dealer network – and whatever information showrooms share with customers – can be out of date within 24 hours.
This has prompted some car dealers to be especially cautious with any delivery handover forecasts to customers.
Some car companies have asked their dealers to compel customers to sign an agreement outlining the price and equipment of the vehicle they ordered could change by the time it arrives – which could be 18 months to two years away. Indeed, in rare cases, the car might not be delivered until the next model.
Outraged customers might not be able to see the queue but the pile of folders on the salesperson’s desk in the dealership is the first clue.
You can bang your fist on the table all you want, but chances are you’re order number 200 in the queue at that particular dealership – and order number 10,000 for that vehicle nationally.
The customer’s deposit is of course fully refundable if the buyer does not agree to the new price or standard equipment – or no longer wants to wait.
The reality is, the car industry has never endured delays of this scale before – and for such an extended period of time.
Over the past two years, demand for certain vehicles has out-stripped supply by such a margin a number of car companies have taken the extra-ordinary step of putting a stop to taking orders and pulled the vehicle from sale – until they clear the current backlog.
With that in mind, here’s the latest list of new cars money can’t buy – unless you’re prepared to pay a premium to a scalper who wants to make a quick buck.
Mercedes-AMG G63
The Mercedes-AMG G63 – the box-shaped SUV favoured by Hollywood stars – has a two-year wait in Australia despite its $300,000-plus price tag.
The problem? Mercedes-Benz Australia has too many orders and the factory can’t build the vehicles fast enough.
The company says it does not know when it will reopen orders for the Mercedes-AMG G63 in Australia.
As you will see below, this is a familiar theme.
MORE: Mercedes-AMG G63 orders remain closed in Australia and overseas
Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series
The Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series built up a two-year waiting list in Australia – before orders were paused last year – despite price rises pushing it closer to $100,000, and despite the vehicle approaching its 40th birthday.
Diehard fans are rushing to this model because it is feared this could be the last turbo-diesel V8 Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series.
Unsubstantiated overseas reports have speculated the V8 could be replaced by turbo-diesel V6 or even four-cylinder diesel power.
Toyota Australia won’t say how many customers are in the queue, but based on our calculations there are 20,000 people waiting (two years worth of 10,000 sales per annum each).
Toyota says because the 70 Series is so old, there are limited manufacturing options to ramp-up production.
MORE: Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series orders remain on hold indefinitely
Suzuki Jimny three-door auto
Orders for the pint-sized Suzuki Jimny three-door automatic were paused earlier this year after wait times stretched to 18 months.
So, if you want a new Suzuki Jimny, you will need to learn how to drive a manual if you can’t wait.
Suzuki Australia says it does not know when automatic orders will re-open.
The company has also declined to outline why only the automatic – which accounts for about 50 per cent of Jimny sales – is affected.
Drive suspects it could be because the company is trying to make sure there are enough automatic transmissions available to launch the upcoming five-door due later this year.
MORE: Suzuki Jimny three-door automatic orders paused until further notice
Volkswagen Tiguan five-seat all-wheel drive
A shortage of semiconductors and all-wheel-drive hardware has slammed the brakes on orders for all-wheel-drive versions of the five-seat, standard-size Volkswagen Tiguan.
No word on when orders will reopen – and they may not, until the new-generation model arrives some time next year.
MORE: Volkswagen Tiguan five-seat AWD orders may not resume until new model
Volkswagen Golf R
See above – though unlike the Tiguan, orders for the Golf R are likely to re-open before this generation reaches the end of the road.
MORE: Volkswagen Golf R, Tiguan R, most five-seat Tiguan orders paused
Audi RS3
Customer demand for the Audi RS3 has exceeded expectations.
As one of the last hardcore, all-wheel-drive hot hatches it’s set to be a future classic.
Here’s hoping Audi reopens orders for this iconic hot hatch before the end of this newly-arrived generation.
MORE: Audi RS3 orders paused in Australia as wait times stretch up to two years
Hyundai i20 N
As with its big brother, the Hyundai i30 N, the Hyundai i20 N hot hatch is set to be the first and last of its type for the South Korean car maker.
Hyundai Australia says it is holding at least one year’s worth of orders and production is absolutely maxed out.
There is no word on when orders will reopen.
However, a facelift is due next year. So it remains to be seen if outstanding orders will be filled with the current pre-facelift version or the mildly updated model.
The Hyundai i20 N is destined to be a future classic. Hyundai joined the hot hatch brigade just as the global car industry made a seismic shift to electric vehicles.
Translation: it is not financially viable for Hyundai to do another petrol-powered hot hatch in the city-car class.
MORE: 2024 Hyundai i20 N facelift coming soon
Hyundai i30 N hatch
A familiar story by now, but the first Hyundai i30 N hatch looks set to be the last.
The Hyundai i30 hatchback on which it is based is unlikely to receive a successor, which would also rule out a high-performance version.
The Hyundai i30 N is destined to be a future classic; its spiritual successor is likely to be electric.
MORE: Hyundai i30 N hot hatch orders paused in Australia
Ford Transit
The full-size Ford Transit van is in the second half of its current model cycle – and Ford Australia is unsure when the new model will arrive.
To avoid disappointing customers, the company has elected to pause orders on the current Ford Transit range until it clears the existing backlog.
It remains to be seen whether Ford will reopen the order books on this model – or wait for the new-generation Ford Transit to be locked in for Australia.
MORE: 2023 Ford Transit orders paused in Australia
Ford Fiesta ST
The Ford Fiesta ST is dead in Australia and globally. A handful of cars (fewer than 50) are due to dock in the coming weeks.
Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Even though the Ford Fiesta ST still appears on the Ford Australia website, none are showing as being in stock.
This is the end of an era for one of the global hot hatch pioneers.
At least a handful of Australians will be able to keep the Ford hot hatch dream alive.
MORE: Ford Fiesta axed globally from 2023
The post Revealed: New cars money can’t buy, orders paused due to high demand appeared first on Drive.
