Long waiting lists have led to Germans losing interest in the PT Cruiser forcing some dealers to offer discounts.
Demand for the fashionable, retro-inspired PT Cruiser has dropped in Germany, forcing dealers to offer discounts on the vehicle.
During the first five months of the year, 2 943 PT Cruisers were registered in Germany – more than all other Chrysler and Jeep products. Waiting lists were also quite long as demand grew after the launch in July 2000.
But many on the list have cancelled their orders as dealers could not confirm when their vehicles would be delivered.
“Many customers were enthusiastic about the car and immediately ordered one,” one dealer said. “But we couldn’t tell them when their car would be delivered. We couldn’t even give them a rough idea. After months and months of waiting without information, many of the customers bailed out of their contracts.”
Chrysler will start producing the PT Cruiser at DaimlerChrysler’s Eurostar plant in Graz, Austria, this week, but dealers have already had to offer discounts on the vehicle.
Eurostar can produce 50 000 Chrysler PT Cruisers annually, bringing the worldwide capacity to 310 000 units in 2002. It has been added to the same production line as the 2001 Voyager.
“I’m trying not to lower the price, but it is very difficult,” said a Chrysler dealer near Frankfurt. “I know that my dealer colleagues are selling the car with a lower price, so customers only need to drive a few kilometres for a better offer.”
He said discounts of between five per cent to eight per cent have been offered and some dealers are even giving 12 per cent cuts.
“I’m not sure how long I will be able to keep a firm stance on the price,” he said. “There is pressure on the price now and it will increase when the cars are produced in bigger numbers in Graz.”
Demand is continuing to grow in the United States, however, where buyers are willing to pay premium prices to have their vehicles delivered on time.
“By continuing to expand PT Cruiser production, we are giving our customers more of what they want: a product that combines unique design, maximum versatility, high quality and a fun driving experience. The additional capacity in Europe will also help us meet the strong demand in North America,” said Dieter Zetsche, president and chief executive officer of the Chrysler Group.
