Metro Vancouver car parts backlog reaching critical levels, auto shops say
Posted May 26, 2022 2:50 pm.
Metro Vancouver auto shops are sounding the alarm about a shortage of car parts. Some say it’s taking months for the average vehicle repair to be completed.
Sam Habib, who manages Fraserview Collision Repair Ltd in Vancouver, says it’s taking much longer to get parts compared to last year.
“Takes more than twice as long,” he told CityNews. “Last year, if a part was on backorder we could get it in three weeks. Now, it takes three months.”
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Michelle Beansley, who manages Jan’s Precision Auto Body and Glass in Langley, is seeing the same. She says telling customers how long the wait will be is hurting her business.
“They’re absolutely losing trust in us,” she explained. “They’re losing trust in the repair process, they’re upset, they’re frustrated, they think we’re just sitting here.”
Sheet metal and parts for electrical repairs are taking the longest to come in, according to Beansley.
“Typically, you’d order parts and it would be ready within one to three days. Anything that’s electrical, whether it’s sensors or harnesses, we’re waiting up to three months.”
Habib is frustrated with the situation, as are his customers. He says the fact it’s out of their hands is throwing off the flow of business.
“[Customers] get upset with us, and then we are stuck with the car for three months, and it just sits here and takes space. And we have no choice but to wait for the part.”
Richard Dettman, CityNews Vancouver’s former business editor and the host of of The Family Wheels Show, says it all comes down to supply chain issues.
“For a long time now due to the supply chain crisis, they haven’t even had enough parts to make new cars to get off the assembly line in the quantity they used to. So, that has a knock-down effect in spare parts.”
He notes there’s an overall vehicle shortage worldwide.
“When you look at the latest sales figures from the month of April, they’re down double digits across Canada from the year earlier. That’s not because people don’t want to buy cars. It’s because they’re not available.”
Read more: Used car prices jump amid pandemic-induced shortages, lack of new vehicles
ICBC says the length of time British Columbians need a rental car due to their vehicle being in the shop has gone up compared to last year. According to the insurer, the average length of rental vehicle use for customers with ICBC claims has increased from 10 days in 2020-21 to 12 days in 2021-22.
