Yamaha Australia has secured approximately 30 WaveRunners from New Zealand in the lead up to the end of 2020 to help local dealers fulfil outstanding orders as stock runs dry in the lead-up to the arrival of 2021 models.
Most Yamaha WaveRunner dealers nationally have run out of stock – or are close to running out of watercraft to sell – due to an unexpectedly high demand in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
With international travel restrictions likely to continue indefinitely in the New Year, many Australians are choosing to holiday at home, sparking an increase in demand for four-wheel-drives, caravans, boats, and watercraft.
As this article was published, dealers for all three major brands reported severe stock shortages, with delivery times blown out to February or March 2021 for watercraft ordered today.
The latest sales figures show Kawasaki and Yamaha have capitalised on a shortage of stock by Sea-Doo, however over a 12-month average the split between the three brands remains about 70 per cent (Sea-Doo), 25 per cent (Yamaha) and 5 per cent (Kawasaki).
Some of Australia’s biggest Yamaha WaverRunner dealers will receive a handful of watercraft to carry them over until 2021 models arrive in December 2020 and January 2021, while both Sea-Doo and Kawasaki are waiting desperately for 2021 arrivals.
“We have a dozen skis coming and they’re all sold before they get here,” said a representative for one of Australia’s biggest Yamaha WaveRunner dealers.
“It’s the same with the 2021 models; our first shipments are sold out. We are now quoting delivery times of February and March for some models.”
The unexpected spike in demand means most dealers are selling watercraft at full retail or close to full retail, and many showrooms have little to no display stock.
The end-of-year runout bonuses have all but evaporated, except on old 2019 stock that carried over into 2020, but even those models are fetching good money.
There is also a shortage on Jet Ski trailers, but the main suppliers are working overtime to meet the unexpected and unprecedented upswing in demand.
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