Car dealers are suffering reputational damage as a result of the shortage of new cars due to semi-conductor supply constraints.
That’s a key finding of a survey conducted by Close Brothers Motor Finance. It found that while two-thirds (66%) of consumers say they understand the difficulties involved, half (48%) say the delays negatively impact their perception of motor dealers.
A similar proportion (46%) say long delivery times damage their view of particular car brands.
Almost half (45%) of consumers say dealers have been unable to supply them with accurate lead times.
Lisa Watson, director of sales at Close Brothers Motor Finance, said: “It’s disappointing to see unavoidable supply chain delays taking some of the magic out of the car buying process.
“It’s clear that, through no fault of their own, dealers are facing the brunt of supply chain challenges.
“The whole sector is working hard to improve lead times. Our consumer research shows dealers should work with buyers and manufacturers to ensure everyone is informed about the process. Some compromises might be possible to get cars on to customers’ driveways as soon as possible.
“This is particularly important at a time when prospective buyers, who may already be put off by delivery delays, will be considering their purchases even more carefully because of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.”