Acura of Peabody Persists Through National Supply Woes

PEABODY, MASS. (06/13/2011)(readMedia)-- The struggles of Japanese automakers after the March 11 earthquake and subsequent tsunami are front of mind for Joel Avery, general manager of Greater Boston Acura dealership Acura of Peabody. He's been getting calls from customers wondering if he has certain Acura models in stock. The good news is, yes, he has plenty of new Acuras on his lot, unlike some other dealerships across the United States.

Acura posted an overall U.S. sales drop in May as inventories dried up, a consequence of the earthquake and tsunami that destroyed infrastructure and limited the ability of suppliers to manufacture parts. Acura's May sales were down 17.1 percent compared with the same month in 2010 based on the Daily Selling Rate (DSR), and the only Acura vehicle to post an increase was the 2011 Acura MDX, a luxury SUV that has been a mainstay of the brand at Massachusetts Acura dealers.

"We've avoided the shortages in other parts of the United States because we've always maintained a large inventory of cars at our dealership. Basically, our size helped protect us," Avery said. "Demand is still very high for fuel-efficient luxury cars, so we expect the short supplies to continue until Acura returns to full production. Until then, we continue to have a very healthy inventory, so I count us as lucky."

U.S. sales of the 2011 Acura MDX increased 1.9 percent in May based on DSR compared with the same time period in 2010. Produced in Alliston, Ontario, the MDX has benefitted from stronger availability than other Acura models. The Japanese automaker suspended dealer orders for the Acura TSX and RL through the months of June and July 2011 because both cars are produced in Japan, where supply shortages are still prevalent months after the natural disasters.

Many Acura showrooms have prevented their inventories from completely running out, but supplies are tight for popular models and only time will tell when production will be back to normal. Sources say that Acura hopes to be back at 100 percent output in its North American plants for most models by August, and the automaker expects global operations to return to normal by the end of the year.

"Right now we're operating like we always have, getting our customers the best deals and selling cars," Avery added. "We could see limited trim and color choices as the summer goes on, but we don't expect this to last for long. Our solid inventory means that it's business as usual, but we do encourage our customers to visit us soon, particularly if they're looking for a model with a specific set of options or a specific color."

Acura's flagship seven-passenger MDX SUV is powered by a 3.7-liter V6 engine and returns 21 mpg on the highway. All models come with Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system, which is part of what makes the MDX so popular in Massachusetts, where weather adds a variety of challenges on the road.

MDX options include a voice-activated navigation system complete with Zagat restaurant reviews, AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic and AcuraLink Real-Time Weather. The MDX also offers an innovative safety option, Acura's Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), which monitors the closing speed of objects directly in front of the vehicle and applies the brakes while tightening the safety belts if it detects an impending crash.

About Acura of Peabody:

Thanks to a complete commitment to the Acura Total Luxury Care (TLC) philosophy from the sales, parts and service teams, this dealership has the best customer satisfaction and retention rates of any Acura dealership in the Northeast. They offer an extensive inventory of new and used Acura models, backed by a service center with the highest customer loyalty in the Northeast. Visit their website at www.acuraofpeabody.com, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/acuraofpeabody, visit their Acura showroom and service center at 233 Andover Street, Peabody, MA, or call them at 888-825-7965.