Short supply stifles sales of Evoque SUV
Land Rover council head: Order now, get one in May
 | Dan Muggli: "Many people come and look at colors and want to pick one out. Then they find out the reality of the delay." |
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Sales of the Range Rover Evoque SUV are strong but supply is not yet adequate, says the head of Land Rover's dealer council.
"If you were to order a new one from us now you'd be talking about a May delivery. The pipeline is not what we'd like it to be," says Dan Muggli, chairman of the Land Rover Business Operations Council.
Muggli manages Land Rover Portland in Portland, Ore.
Muggli says if you factor in presold Evoques the delay would be even longer, probably about five months.
The Evoque has won several awards since its October launch, including North American Truck of the Year.
Other notable wins include Car of the Year in the United Kingdom's Auto Express New Car Honours; BBC Top Gear's Car of the Year; Motor Trend magazine's SUV of the Year, and the Design Trophy from l'Automobile in France.
But the long wait to own one is costing some sales, Muggli says.
"Many people come and look at colors and want to pick one out. Then they find out the reality of the delay," Muggli says.
Muggli has been able to convince some customers the Evoque is worth the wait.
"But you're not going to get them all with that kind of delay," Muggli says.
A Land Rover spokesman says the brand is finishing the global launch phase of the Evoque and working to get U.S. supply to meet demand and cut waiting time.
A Jaguar Land Rover spokesman says: "For 2012 we look to increase our supply of vehicles to take advantage of market opportunities."
You can reach Jamie LaReau at jlareau@crain.com. -- Follow Jamie on 
