Hello readers,
Hoping all is going well as 2023 progresses.
So, you’re wanting a brand-new MY23/24 car?
Well, you may be surprised to hear that waiting times for some popular brand-new cars here in Melbourne – and around Australia – can now be longer than any of us ever imagined prior to the covid-19 lockdowns. Demand for new vehicles is extremely high; delivery times for Australia’s favourite models continue to increase as the automotive industry struggles with this high demand amid continuing production shortages and supply constraints. Indeed, some LMCTs have also reported the unprecedented shipping delays due to quarantine backlogs at almost all Australian arrival ports are now affecting vehicle delivery times just as much as the covid-19-related semi-conductor crisis. Some shipping companies are now even bypassing Australia because of the quarantine debacle, leading to increased transport charges by others that don’t, thus adding more time and expense to the vehicle import process. Apparently, Port Kembla is now reported to be the preferred venue for unloading automotive carriers because vehicles are being cleaned more quickly there, further adding to the congestion at one of Australia’s largest ports. All that mentioned above has increased the delivery times of most vehicles, including some of the best-sellers from some of the closest ports, with deliveries of one popular ute now taking reportedly three months to arrive from Thailand instead of just one.
Apparently, Australian car buyers took delivery of 1,081,429 new vehicles in 2022, but just as the market started recovering from post-C19 restrictions, some of Australia’s favourite models are still having some very long wait times. After researching media reports from the major players in the Australian car market here is a generalised guide to how long you may wait for a brand-new car if you placed an order recently.
The below list does not include models leaving the market without a replacement.
The micro-passenger car segment
The Kia Picanto, the smallest Kia product offered in Australia, also has the shortest wait times of the Kia range, with new orders taking three to four months to arrive.
The Fiat 500 still has reasonable stock levels of the current city-car – but you may not be able to order one if your preferred specification isn’t in stock.
The light-passenger segment
The MG3 is this segment’s sales leader: the MG3 is available around the country, but you may have to be happy with a colour choice in stock. If you want a particular colour ordered from the factory, then there can be an average three to four months waiting time.
The Mazda2 is now one of the oldest models in its segment and it continues to be popular; it is broadly available in Melbourne and has a short one- to three-month waiting time for specifications/colours not in stock.
The Suzuki Swift has been doing it hard recently with supply issues and very limited stock, but those wanting a Swift will be glad to hear most variants will only take about a month to arrive.
The small-passenger car segment.
The Toyota Corolla has been the best-selling small car for years now in Australia and its popularity is showing no signs of subsiding, with a reported eight- to 12-month wait on all variants.
The Hyundai i30 has an average three- to six-month wait on new orders and those after an N hatch will need to look elsewhere because the order books are still currently closed. (i30N pictured)
The Kia Cerato “fresh orders” will usually take between three and six months to arrive if there isn’t a suitable vehicle available in the constrained local stockpile.
The medium-passenger car segment
The Tesla Model 3 reportedly outsold the Toyota Camry last year, and now it seems that success will continue in 2023 with apparently wait times of around only a month for its best-selling electric sedan.
The Toyota Camry could well have the longest waiting time of any new vehicle in Australia, including those with temporarily closed order books, with LMCTs advising potential customers of a nine- to 14-month wait on the solitary petrol variant and up to four years for the hybrids.
The large-passenger car segment
The Kia Stinger order books have closed officially, but if you are quick, apparently there’s still some residual stock left and vehicles available to buy from orders that have fallen through.
The Skoda Superb will soon be the only mainstream large car offered in Australia following the Stinger’s departure. Skoda Superb stocks are good presently. Expect wait times of up to three months if a particular vehicle needs to be ordered.
The people-mover segment
The Kia Carnival has been the leader of the people carriers for more than ten years now as it continues to attract thousands of fans every year, but that segment-ruling popularity had led to an average three- to six-month wait on the mid-range spec and longer on the core variants.
The Hyundai Staria looks like something from a recent moon landing, but the Hyundai Staria has established itself well within the mainstream MPV segment and continues to attract fans, hence the three- to six-month lead time on new orders.
The sports-passenger car segment
The Ford Mustang: unfortunately, you can’t order one now, given the next-generation car isn’t due to arrive in showrooms until the very late stages of 2023.
The Subaru BRZ wait times have averaged out to about three months, regardless of the variant or colour.
The light-SUV segment
The Mazda CX-3 is reportedly in plentiful supply around the country and readily available to those in the market for a new light SUV.
The Kia Stonic’s waiting times are averaging around the three- to six-month mark for a new order.
The Toyota Yaris Cross orders will take roughly 10-12 months to fill regardless of the variant, with the hybrids typically taking longer than the petrol variants.
The small-SUV segment
The MG ZS is one of the most affordable offerings in the small SUV segment which has prompted average wait times of between three and seven months, depending on the colour and specification. However, the range-topping EV is largely in stock nationally.
The Mazda CX-30: Mazda has reportedly returned to pre-pandemic stock levels of most of its models offered in Australia and that ready availability applies to the CX-30 compact SUV as well. But consumers should expect a wait of up to three months if their preferred colour or optional specification isn’t in stock.
The Mitsubishi ASX is one of the oldest models in its segment, but that hasn’t affected demand or supply for the compact SUV, with delivery times hovering around one to three months, depending on the colour choice and specification.
The medium-SUV segment
The Toyota RAV4, one of Australia’s favourite new cars, also has one of the longest wait times, with an estimated three-year wait on the RAV4 Hybrid and up to two years for the petrol versions.
The Mazda CX-5: in comparison to its competitor above, the Mazda CX-5 – along with various other key Mazda models – is in plentiful supply and readily available nationally. Despite the fact the CX-5 is Australia’s top-selling SUV so far in 2023, reports say there are only minimal wait times applying to new orders, depending on certain specifications or options.
The Kia Sportage: the same can’t quite be said about the Kia Sportage, with the lower and mid-range versions averaging three- to six-month delivery times, while the wait gets longer the higher up the model variants range you go.
The large-SUV segment – 4×4
The Toyota Prado: being one of the oldest ‘brand-new’ vehicles on the market, the Toyota Prado continues to be the best-selling large SUV of any variety and generally has an average waiting time of about twelve months.
The Isuzu MU-X: the Isuzu MU-X has waiting times varying from eight to 14 months, depending on which variant you’re after.
The Ford Everest: demand for the Ford Ranger’s wagon sibling is high, with waiting times currently varying from about five to 18 months depending on the grade chosen and specifications.
The large-SUV/family SUV segment
The Toyota Kluger: this segment’s sales leader, Toyota Kluger, is available in two main drivetrain variants: petrol or hybrid. Waiting times for the former are averaging between six and eight months, while new orders for the latter will take up to 12 months to arrive.
The Subaru Outback: Subaru Outback waiting times vary, depending on which powertrain you’re after, with the normally aspirated versions taking up to two months to arrive, although there is – at times, if you’re lucky – some stock around. The turbo-charged XTs are taking a bit longer, averaging four months waiting time.
The Kia Sorento: like the smaller Sportage, new orders for the lower-tier Kia Sorentos are taking between three and six months to fill on average, but you’ll have to wait longer for the higher grades. Would-be hybrid and plug-in hybrid customers will have to look elsewhere because local order books are closed.
The upper large-SUV segment
The Toyota Landcruiser: with the current model Nissan Patrol getting old and being only available with a petrol V8, it’s perhaps not surprising the Toyota Landcruiser is the full-size SUV sales leader, but what is now surprising is that certain variants – including the volume-selling GXL – may potentially take a bit over four months to arrive.
(PS- The Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series may take up to 24 months to arrive.)
The Nissan Patrol: it might be ageing and far from the most fuel-efficient vehicle on the roads, but the Nissan Patrol is continuing to enjoy steady demand currently, with a reported wait time of three- to six-month for new orders.
The 4×4 pick-up segment
The Toyota HiLux: in contrast to the RAV4, waiting times for the Toyota HiLux – Australia’s best-selling vehicle – are hovering between four and six months depending on the variant, colour, specification and options chosen.
The Ford Ranger: the Ranger’s popularity in Australia has led to some extended delivery times ranging between six and 15 months on the main variants, with the higher grades having the longer waits. If you are desiring a Raptor, expect to wait at least 12 months.
The Mitsubishi Triton: the current Triton has long been reported to be one of Australia’s best-value utilities, and, with an average wait time of up to three months on new orders, it backs up that value with one of its segment’s shortest waiting times.
New car delivery times are slowly improving as 2023 progresses. The past years of covid-19 lockdowns and covid-19 safety measures did dramatically slow the official launch and production of many new models, which in some cases, still may create a delay in delivery dates. In short, if the date matters, make the LMCT purchase contract conditional upon a clearly specified delivery date.
When test driving a vehicle in today’s “new-normal post covid 19 restrictions” if you have any health concerns etc., don’t be afraid to ask the salesperson to stay at the dealership – or failing that – get them to sit in the back. You’re not being rude, just observing the social distancing recommendations previously advised (do so also in the LMCT dealership). Ask these questions politely, remembering that LMCT dealerships and their staff may still be facing the same personal C19 restriction recovery challenges as you may be experiencing. So, when the time comes to update your car for a safer MY2023-24 brand-new car – even maybe an EV? – with a long warranty, or very recent late-model used car, perhaps a towing car or 4WD in the new normal post-C19 lockdown Melbourne, DABAS knows that buying a car to suit your needs can be one of the biggest purchases in your life. DABAS offers flexible personal assistance to clients on their car-buying journeys, tailored to suit their individual budgetary needs.
DABAS services can be delivered in a vast variety of ways, including – but not limited to – phone consultation/s, zoom meetings, research emails, research links, LMCT yard email link referrals, face-to-face meetings at a caryard/s, in the cafe at an LMCT caryard or even in your home if required. The choice is totally yours, pending personal needs and the urgency timelines of being behind the wheel of your next car. DABAS services are offered flexibly, as stages in a journey. You pick at what stage of your journey you may need DABAS’s assistance: maybe the full journey, or just vehicle selection/clarification, or maybe just providing a car-yard buffer zone and help with the yard process.
We hope this “general-in-nature information” page has provided some useful information to assist you. By clicking on DABAS’s blog index link here you may find some guidance for your personal car-buying journey. The included highlighted links on this page may also provide other information that assists in selecting a suitable vehicle for your car-buying needs.
Whatever roads your life journey takes you on, DABAS can help you find a car to travel those roads.
Have a great day, Cheers, Tim.
Please note our disclaimer, as clients have individually tailored needs and stages on their DABAS automotive-buying journey, information mentioned on this – and all – DABAS blog pages is to be considered as a general-in-nature summary. Any vehicle pricing and advice on our pages is general in nature and can be discussed and clarified – if needed – relevant to the timeframe and date stamp of your transition to becoming a client of DABAS.
In the last few years, COVID-19 (coronavirus) measures did dramatically slow the official launch and production of many of MY23’s and MY24’s new models, which in some cases will also create a long delay in production, manufacturing and customer delivery dates for some vehicles.
