Market reacts in Brazil and dealerships have waiting line
O Estado de S. Paulo 02/05/2009
The patios of plants and dealerships are still full and the makers are holding major sales, but for some models of the 2009 line there is a waiting line. The delivery time can take up to 45 days. The makers admit the cutting in the production after December in order to adjust the stocks to the demand has cause the shortage of some versions, but they affirm the shortage is specific. A survey made yesterday in large dealerships of the capital of the state of São Paulo by MSantos, specialized in retail of cars, verified that models like Ford Ka (basic version) and the new Volkswagen Gol take between 20 to 30 days to be delivered. As for the waiting time for the Fiat Siena, Stilo Sport and Strada Locker, and GM Celta (4-door compact), Captiva and automatic Meriva, it takes up to 45 days. The Honda and Toyota dealerships have a 30-day waiting line for the EX and EXL versions of the Honda Fit, the most expensive of the line, and for all models of Toyota Corolla and Hilux. "We launched the new versions in November, in the eye of the hurricane of the crisis, and right afterwards we reduced the production, which for the top versions of the line was already a smaller number", explained the Honda general manager, Alberto Pescuno. The plant of Sumaré (SP), which used to work on three shifts, started this year with only two shifts, but it is adjusting its production, says Pescuno. According to him, the deliveries should go back to normal in March. "We started the year low on our stock in the network and now there is a shortage of all products", says the sales manager of the Caltabiano Toyota dealership, Maria de Lourdes Gameiro. The Itacolomy and Itororó GM dealership are asking their clients for 20 to 30 days to deliver the 4-door Celta. The model, which costs nearly R$ 26 thousand (US$ 11.3 thousand) with some optional items, is produced in Gravataí (RS). The company already suspended the blanket vacations scheduled from January 26 to February 8 and the assembly line is operating normally.