Land Rover inventories to stay lean
 | Snell: An extra production shift will help. |
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Land Rover dealers say they expect to face continued tight inventory this year.
Keeping supply matched with demand has been a challenge for the automaker and frustrating for dealers.
Land Rover dealers say they could have had a double-digit percentage increase in sales last year with more products in stock, says a member of the Land Rover Business Operations Council.
"Our biggest continuing issue is availability of product," Jim Snell says. "With our sales increases we've been fighting to get enough cars. This is the second or third year in a row where I think our sales would have been better if we'd had more product."
Snell says he expects supply of the redesigned 2013 Range Rover to be especially tight this year given heavy advance orders for it late last year.
Snell owns three Texas Land Rover dealerships and is a member of the Land Rover Business Operations Council.
Snell could have increased sales volume at his three stores by 10 percent if he had more inventory in stock last year, he says. But, he says, all the Land Rover vehicles have become popular throughout the world, and the increased demand in China, Russia and India makes it hard for the automaker to keep pace.
"They're putting on an additional shift at the plant that builds the Evoque, so that will help," Snell says.
The 2013 redesigned Range Rover landed in stores in December and is a hit, Snell says.
"In our three stores, we had in excess of 250 of them pre-sold," Snell says.
"So I think availability of the new Range Rover will be a problem for the foreseeable future."
Q&A: autonews.com/snell
You can reach Jamie LaReau at jlareau@crain.com. -- Follow Jamie on 
