Parts supply a spanner in works for desperate mechanics

Queensland car owners needing a basic service are being forced to wait weeks as mechanics turn away customers due to a “perfect storm” that’s put the industry in neutral.

Mechanics are being forced to turn away customers due to a ‘perfect storm’ of high demand, a lack of skilled staff and a shortage of car parts putting the industry in neutral.

There is a shortage of around 16,000 skilled staff in Queensland alone, coinciding with domestic and international trade issues and a 30 per cent jump in demand.

People needing a basic service could have to wait up to two weeks in metropolitan Queensland and regionally it’s even worse, with one shop booked out until next February.

The director of Absolute Car Care in Woolloongabba Michael Georgas said he has had to turn customers away and is making bookings two weeks in advance.

“I’ve been here 21 years and it’s probably the worst it’s been,” he said.

Michael Georgas from Absolute Car Care in Woolloongabba, Friday, November 5, 2021 - Picture: Richard Walker

“Like it is busier than ever and there has been a 30 per cent increase in demand since Covid hit, but the problem is the supply channel,” he said.

“There is a lack of parts, a lack of staff and the supply chain logistics, they are the three areas of real concern.”

Mr Georgas said they needed a common engine mound for a Suzuki swift, two years ago there would be 200 waiting in Brisbane warehouses.

“This is a really common car part and this morning when I phoned there are 250 waiting on a back order, there are none.”

“Getting something from Sydney or Melbourne used to come overnight and is now three to four days, getting anything from overseas used to be up to 10 days and has blown out to six to eight weeks and some supplies can take three months.”

A sentiment echoed by Mike Webber at Prestige and Performance in Coorparoo, he said he has a backlog of services for a fortnight and the pinch is industry wide.

Motor Trades Association of Queensland CEO Rod Camm the a lack of labour availability is putting the industry on hold, in a time of unprecedented demand.

“There is something like 16,000 skill shortages across the state alone in the automotive industry, it’s very difficult to find a tradesperson,” he said.

Michael Georgas from Absolute Car Care in Woolloongabba. Picture: Richard Walker

“I was in Mackay the other day and the mechanics were saying they were booked up till February next year with no capacity for more work, so if your car breaks down today, wow it’s a problem isn’t it.”

The National Sales and Marketing Manager at Engine Australia Mark Bryers said the parts shortage is ‘out of our hands’ and won’t improve until February or March at the earliest.

“It’s been pretty good until the last four months, but now its turned into a real dogfight, it’s just trying to find the parts.”

“We’ve just got a manufacture now who sent us an email saying due to the shortage of rubber raw material … it is hard for our supply chain to provide materials on time, all the open orders of silicone and viton will be delayed or cancelled.”