YOU want to buy your dream car but, unfortunately, there is no supply.
You stick to the vehicle but you are told to wait six months at the minimum.
You are stubborn, and you insist you are not backing down—even if they try to “discourage” you by saying: “There’s no commitment. And the wait could even last one year.”
What I’m telling you is a fact.
A friend of mine had wanted to buy an Alphard, the luxury Toyota van that costs millions.
“Help,” he said. “I’m not trying to buy just one Alphard, not just two Alphard, or not just three Alphard.”
So, how many?
“I need 10,” he said.
He has become a billionaire?
No debate there.
I called up some friends.
“Sorry, buddy, but much as I want to help your friend, no dice,” said one big shot from Toyota. “I have so many clients already waiting in line for the Alphard.”
So when can my friend purchase his fleet?
“We will be lucky if we can have them delivered middle of 2023,” the big shot said.
The queue for the Alphard is that long that my friend finally settled “for just two units” if only to satisfy his longing for the elusive ride.
He told me he’d switch to LM7 Lexus.
“Ten units, too, buddy,” he said.
So, I went to another big shot at Lexus.
“Middle of next year would be the closest, Sir,” said the big shot.
My friend also settled for “two Lexus LM7s.”
What’s causing the non-supply, or short supply, of both models?
“We are really asking for patience and understanding from customers,” said the big shot. “Pasensiya na po.”
Dealers have even stopped accepting the usual P500k down payment in the absence of a confirmed supply.
“There’s so much demand for Alphards today, in the wake of hotels and casinos opening up in a flurry,” said the big shot. “Alphard is a come-on for Chinese and Korean tourists coming back to the Philippines. But, sadly, we can’t do anything for now. As you know, sir, other countries have even longer waiting time than us.”
Not Indonesia or Thailand but Japan is where the Alphard comes from.
“Affected models of short supply like the Alphard and LM7 Lexus are sourced from Japan, Sir,” said the big shot. “Supplies almost zero worldwide.”
The main reason for this?
“Production output is bugged by an acute shortage of supply chain for chips,” said the big shot.
And here’s the coup d’ grace, from another big shot of another level: “Production plants for chips have maximized capacity already, and expanding their plants will require huge investments and long lead time. Besides, they are not certain that this high level of demand will continue, post-pandemic. So, ayaw din nila mag-rush to expand. They want guarantees also.”
Very profound, indeed.
PEE STOP Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) recently provided health and safety equipment to Don Jose Integrated High School in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, through the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela. “HCPI is always grateful for opportunities to help in activities such as this,” said Vicenta Balarbar, HCPI Executive Vice President, during the turnover ceremony that was also attended by DJIHS representatives Catherine Javier, Principal I; Arlene Gaspard, Brigada Eskwela Coordinator; and, Patria Aclo, Adopt-a-School Coordinator. Visit www.hondaphil.com to know more about HCPI’s corporate social responsibility programs.