New automobile gross sales in Scotland fell by 7.5% final month as sellers struggled to pay money for automobiles from producers.
Simply 21,069 have been registered in March, in line with the Society of Motor Producers (SMMT).
Scottish motor merchants cited Brexit, the pandemic and an ongoing world scarcity of laptop chips for a scarcity of auto availability.
The UK as an entire noticed its worst March for brand new gross sales in 24 years, with a 14.3% year-on-year drop.
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In Scotland, gross sales of pure electrical automobiles climbed from 1,629 in March 2021 to 2,296 final month. Petrol/electrical hybrid automobile gross sales rose by nearly 600 over the identical interval, to 2,981.
In the meantime, diesel-run automobiles noticed registrations drop by practically half, to 2,464 models.
March usually marks a vital month for the automotive trade, with patrons snapping up vehicles with the newest quantity plates.
Scottish new automobile prospects like Ann Nairn have skilled difficulties in getting their fingers on a automobile.
She instructed the BBC: “I have been spherical plenty of dealerships. Sadly I’ll have to attend till the tip of September for my automobile.
“It was a very nice factor to go and decide a brand new automobile and inside a couple of days you bought it however, I suppose, altering occasions.
“I can perceive there are many issues all around the world however I want I may get my automobile now.”
‘Very difficult’
Graeme Telfer, gross sales supervisor at Henrys Honda in Glasgow, stated the dealership was not getting its vehicles from producers as shortly as it will need.
He added: “We used to inform buyer they must wait seven to 14 days to get a automobile. Now we may very well be taking a look at between three to 6 months and even 9 months.
“It may be very difficult as a result of prospects need their vehicles yesterday.”
‘Nearly good storm’
Sandy Burgess, chief govt of the Scottish Motor Commerce Affiliation, stated the trade continued to be hit by “an nearly good storm”, with demand far exceeding provide.
He stated: “There have been numerous points which have all gathered collectively – now we have gone from Brexit clearly via the pandemic.
“Then we had the pc chip state of affairs and now now we have the unlucky state of affairs in Ukraine, which is affecting some producers greater than others.
“We’ve sellers quoting 9 months – in reality I’ve even heard of 18 months – for supply of a brand new car.”
He added: “Over the previous 18 months, now we have seen used car costs on common rising something from 22% to 26% – that’s pushed as soon as once more fairly just by demand.
“There is a very vital shift in propulsion as a result of the electrical car is coming very a lot to the fore now.”
Extra on this story
-
New quantity plate fails to spice up March automobile gross sales
- 5 April
-
Tesla expects 50% progress regardless of provide chain woes
- 27 January