"We took a customer order for a car in January for delivery in April, and then were told it wouldn’t be available to hand over until June 15. I can’t tell a customer that – they will walk away." - Anonymous Perodua Dealer

Perodua dealers say they are being hampered in their efforts to maximise scrappage sales opportunities by a dire shortage of stock.

One dealer, who asked not to be named, contacted AM and said he was speaking for many in the 65-strong dealer network. He said customers were being told they would have to wait up to six months for cars.

The dealer, based in the north east, said: “The scrappage scheme is well underway and we’re getting orders, but we can’t get the cars.

“We took a customer order for a car in January for delivery in April, and then were told it wouldn’t be available to hand over until June 15. I can’t tell a customer that – they will walk away. 

“I’ve spent £1,000 on marketing the business in a local supermarket, including an event three weeks ago around scrappage and now I find I can’t get the cars. So what is the point? I won’t be spending money this way unless the situation improves.”

A shipment of 40 cars was due to arrive from Malaysia at the end of May but only 17 arrived.

The Kenari and Myvi are prime opportunities to sell on the back of the Government scrappage scheme, the dealer said.
Newly-appointed Perodua UK managing director Steve Connor said he was aware of the supply issues.

“We have fulfilled 90% of orders placed in January and, while we have had a few issues with supply from Malaysia, we have secured the maximum allocation we can for righthand drive cars,” he said.

“In the next couple of months we will catch up with stock demand to be up to capacity at the back end of the year.”
He stressed that Perodua was a niche brand. 

In the first couple of weeks of the scrappage scheme, it took more than 30 orders. 

In normal circumstances, the brand expects to shift around 70 units per month. Scrappage was expected to see this grow to 150.

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