How Long After a Car is Built is It Shipped?

Before a car appears in a shiny new showroom or is posted online, it must first be built.

There are a bunch of different things that go into the timeline between the build and shipment of cars.

From assembly line speed to wait times at ports, the process from building a vehicle to shipping is lengthy.

In this article, I'll describe in detail the journey a car makes from factory to dealership, and you'll know, on average, how long it takes for a vehicle to be shipped after it's built.

How Long Does It Take a Car to Be Shipped After It's Built?

Whether a car is being delivered to a showroom or driveway, many factors affect the time it takes to ship a car once it's pieced together like a big block of Lego.

Most manufacturers use a combination of ground transportation and air freight to deliver the car, depending on its location and how soon it is needed. If the car is destined for a foreign market, it may also be shipped overseas.

It will most likely take a little longer if a car is transported overseas rather than domestically.

For customers perusing dealer inventory or looking to purchase a new car from dealerships, delivery estimates will usually range from one to four weeks. This could be longer if the car needs to be transported across state lines or is a custom order.

So, what are the ways a car can be built and shipped? Let's take a look.

Construct-to-Order Overview

In some cases, car manufacturers will build vehicles to order for customers. This is known as a build-to-order system and allows car enthusiasts to design custom-made cars via a range of creative choices and specifications.

Although a cool concept, the build process may take longer than standard production times as the manufacturer needs to assemble the custom-made cars according to the customer's specifications.

Why Design-to-Order Benefits Automakers

Build-to-order systems benefit automakers in several ways. It allows the automaker to monitor production and inventory levels, as they can produce exactly what customers request.

This means that the company can avoid overproduction or underproduction of individual models.

Build-to-order systems are helpful for car producers as they allow them to plan and use resources efficiently and accurately. This cuts down on time and money wasted producing cars that might not be sold.

When a company successfully delivers a customer's customized car, it can increase punter satisfaction and loyalty.

Buying Direct From a Dealership

Another popular car-buying method is walking around your local showroom and checking out the dealer stock.

Buying a car from the stunning showroom means driving off the same day and avoiding waiting for a car to be built, shipped, and delivered to your home.

Dealerships typically receive regular shipments of new cars from automakers. Customers should be able to find exactly what they are looking for in stock and even test drive the model.

Why Do Vehicles Take So Long to Get to Dealerships?

Sometimes, waiting for a new car model can be delayed. This could be for many reasons, such as local businesses waiting to receive new dealer stock, a shortage of parts or materials needed to complete the cars, delays in production, or transport issues.

Additional car delays getting to your local dealership could be for one of the following reasons:

Freight company problems

Bad weather, truck driver shortages, mechanical breakdowns, or even human error from a shipping company could delay your car's delivery, leaving it stranded for days at the port awaiting rescue.

Time of the year

During peak automotive industry buying seasons, demand for new cars can increase, leading to wait times longer. Automakers may also slow production during certain times of the year due to holidays or vacations, which could mean a lengthy delay.

Distance from manufacturer

If you're ordering a car from a different country or state, you should expect it to increase delivery time. The distance between your local showroom and the manufacturer's factory is essential in delivery times.

Supply shortage

If there is a shortage of parts, trucker shortages for transport or materials needed to complete the cars, or if production slows due to labor shortages or other reasons, it can lead to a lengthy delay in shipping times.

Size of vehicle

The size of your vehicle will significantly affect the time it takes to ship it once it is built. Larger vehicles, such as SUVs or trucks, will require larger delivery trucks.

Usually, these more oversized transport loads are cumbersome and thus take a little longer to crawl up the world's highways and byways.

Many roads, bridges, and highways also have weigh stations that restrict the maximum size and weight of vehicles that can be transported, which could delay delivery times.

Low sales

An unpopular model doesn't make much business sense, so automakers may reduce production levels or even stop production altogether.

This can lead to longer wait times for customers, as the dealership won't soon receive regular shipments of new cars from the manufacturer.

Ordering an Automobile Direct from the Factory

More and more people are now buying their cars directly from the factory. This method of buying offers the convenience of having your car built according to your specifications without waiting for it to be shipped to your local dealership franchise.

Advantages of ordering from the factory

Ordering a car directly from the factory has several advantages. First, it can often result in faster delivery times since the vehicle will be shipped directly to the buyer without passing through a dealership.

Buyers also get more control over their purchases and can usually customize their orders through choices like paint or entertainment systems.

Additionally, ordering a car directly from the factory can often lower prices. Automakers and online dealerships often offer incentives to those who buy directly from them, such as discounts or special offers for popular models.

Ordering direct from the factory also streamlines the buying process. You no longer need to visit multiple showrooms, and you can purchase a car from the comfort of your home.

Drawbacks of ordering from the factory

Although ordering a car directly from the factory can be beneficial in terms of faster delivery times and special offers, there are also some drawbacks to consider.

Ordering directly from the factory often means that buyers will have less access to customer service and assistance if any issues arise with their purchase.

Sometimes, warranty claims or repairs can also take longer to process when ordered directly from the factory. The same financing options may also not be available compared to those given if purchased from a dealership.

To Finish

It's hard to definitively answer how long the car takes to ship following its building stage.

Car manufacturers must consider production schedules, scheduled maintenance needs, automotive part delivery times, and more.

There is a silver lining, though; with good management and the variables in your favor, the car of your dreams can be sent off for delivery in as little as two days.

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