A grandad who has waited more than a year for his £37,000 Land Rover to be built has been 'forced to walk his grandchildren to school in the rain'.
Michael Finnerty, 68, worked at Jaguar in Castle Bromwich for 20 years and ordered the Discovery Sport through Jaguar Landrover’s employee purchase scheme in March 2021. He put down a £1,000 deposit but still hasn’t been given a build date due to a global semiconductor shortage, BirminghamLive reports.
Michael, from Sheldon, said: "The contract was signed, the order was put in [but] I haven't received my car. After 20 years of service to the company, loyal service I might add, they are not looking after me. All I'm asking for is a build date."
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Michael bought a Land Rover in 2005 when he left his job as a production supervisor at Jaguar. He enjoyed driving it for 17 years before deciding to buy another one last year.
But since then Michael said he had been left baffled as his order was cancelled and changed multiple times.
He first wanted a 2021 plate Land Rover Discovery Sport petrol. Then, in July, he claims he was told JLR had cancelled the order and offered him a 2022 model.
While he agreed to pay a similar price for the newer model, he claims he was then told the car had been "taken off the employee purchase scheme with only the diesel model available".
It comes amid a global semiconductor computer chip shortage that started during the pandemic. Jaguar Land Rover says the crisis has hit sales and warned customers they will have to wait longer for new cars to arrive.
But the pensioner said that despite working at a senior level for Jaguar for decades, he thought the firm was treating him badly. He claimed the situation could "go on forever" while they still have a thousand pounds of his money.
Asked if he would give up and get another car, Michael said he had five grandchildren and needed a seven-seater. He said: "Obviously I have thought about it but it's the only car I want."
The grandad has been unable to get out and about with ease, relying on public transport and having to walk. He said he had hired cars to go on holiday but had to go without when at home.
"Because I'm retired I've managed to do without a car," he added. "I imagine people who need a car would have cancelled the order. You can't wait and be without a car for 12 months if you are working."
A spokesperson for Jaguar Land Rover said: “Like other automotive manufacturers, we are currently experiencing some continued supply chain disruption, including the global availability of semiconductors, which is having an impact on our production schedules and our ability to meet global demand for some of our vehicles.
"We sympathise and will be in contact with Mr Finnerty and are working hard to minimise the impact on customer orders wherever possible."
