JLR boss Adrian Mardell has said the firm has begun to resolve the parts backlog caused by delays at its new logistics hub – but has cautioned that it will take time for dealers to be able to repair all the cars affected.
The problems arose when the company formerly known as Jaguar Land Rover reconfigured its UK parts supply network, from 18 warehouses to one ‘super centre’ run by Unipart Logistics in Leicestershire.
Last October, Car Dealer Magazine reported that 10,000 cars were off the road awaiting parts due to delays at the facility; and in November, Mardell acknowledged a backlog of around 5000 critical parts.
Speaking during JLR’s third-quarter financial results call, Mardell said that the backlog had been reduced to fewer than 2000 parts by the end of January. However, he cautioned that the situation would take some time to resolve.
“Those parts need to be put into the vehicles, so the challenge is moved towards dealer availability and capability to fix vehicles,” said Mardell. “That's going to take a bit more time. But the original bottleneck is actually mostly through. It’s not where we want to get it, but it’s mostly through.”
Mardell added that JLR has added 1000 new courtesy vehicles to its network, “so if you don't get your fix as quick as you want, at least you will have the option of going into a JLR product”.
He admitted that the delays have meant “too many of our customers had to go into non-brand vehicles”.
Mardell insisted that while the backlog had caused challenges, switching to the new super-centre would ultimately prove beneficial.
He added: “We've made good progress over the last three months, but this isn't done. We will stay with this until we're back and better than we originally were. Frankly, we're doing this to improve things, not to make things worse. So we will stay with it until things are better.”
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JLR boss, Adrian (mardy) Mardell has said (after collecting all the teddies thrown from his pram during the press conference), the firm has begun to resolve the parts backlog caused by delays at its new logistics hub – but has cautioned, as this is another project completely cocked up by JLR, it will take time for dealers to be able to repair all the cars affected. That's assuming dealers are not fobbing off their loyal customers with comedy excuses.
The problems arose when the company formerly known as Prince, err no sorry, Jaguar Land Rover downsized its UK parts supply network from 18 warehouses to one ‘super shit centre’ run by Unipart Logistics in Leicestershire. I think it's the one next door to the big digger factory, I like diggers said (mardy) Mardell.
Last October, Car Dealer Magazine reported that 1,000,000 cars were off the road awaiting parts for numerous faults due to shoddy manufacturing and delays at the facility; and in November, (mardy) Mardell acknowledged a backlog of around 5,000,000 critical parts.
Getting annoyed and shouting at journalists during JLR’s third-quarter financial results call, (mardy) Mardell said that the backlog had been reduced to fewer than 2,000,000 critical parts, such as engines and things by the end of January. However, he cautioned that the situation would take some time to resolve as JLR are notoriously shit at project management.
“Those parts need to be put into the vehicles by our incredibly arrogant dealer network, at least the ones that are not completely flooded, so the challenge has moved towards dealer availability and (lack of) capability to fix vehicles,” said (mardy) Mardell. “That's going to take a bit more time, like err maybe 3 years? But the original bottleneck is actually mostly through. It’s not where we want to get it, but it’s mostly through.” I think. Whilst turning to look at other colleagues desperate for a better answer.
(mardy) Mardell added that JLR has added 1,000,000 new courtesy vehicles to its network, which is accounting for our recent surge in sales figures “so if you don't get yours fixed as quick as you want, at least you will have the option of going into a JLR product”, providing that one is working.
He admitted that the delays have meant “too many of our customers had to go into non-brand vehicles”. Which are admittedly, considerably better.
(mardy) Mardell insisted that while the backlog had caused challenges, switching to the new super shit centre would ultimately prove beneficial. Hopefully...
He added: “We've done things and introduced new thingy's over the last three months, We will stay with this until we're back and better than we originally were, which to be fair, was pretty dire.
Frankly, we're shit and we're doing this to improve things, not to make things worse. So we will stay with it until things are better.” which is likely to be never. And that's it, I don't have anymore thingy's to say on this thing.