Visited our local Hyundai dealers this week to order the Ionic 5, only to be told that electric cars are being cancelled way too often and they now require a £2,000 deposit to order any new electric car! Has anyone else encountered this recently?
This is very interesting and probably points to a wider issue of demand for EVs declining since the cut off date for new ICE registrations was pushed back to 2035. I suspect that this dealership, along with others, has had a number of private customers cancelling orders and they have been stuck with stock. This will also explain why so many forum members are being quoted immediate availability, or very short lead times, for some EVs.
As @kezo has said, dealers are allowed to request a deposit for a Motability order although, in reality, this is rare. Some dealers will ask for the cost of any factory options to be paid up front but, again, this isn’t common. I added a few thousand pounds worth of options to our current BMW but the dealership didn’t ask me for a penny for them (or the AP) until we actually took delivery of the car.
If you are dead set on ordering a Hyundai, my advice would be to try another dealership. It is clear from the number of forum members ordering Hyundai’s at present that most dealerships are not asking for deposits. You do not have to order from your nearest dealership. I ordered our previous VW from 80 miles away as that dealership was offering £500 off the AP. The car was then subsequently serviced and maintained at out local VW dealership.
There are risks with paying a deposit. If the AP drops before you take delivery the dealership may be less inclined to adjust the AP for you. Also, if a better car comes on to the scheme between now and when you take delivery they may make it difficult for you to cancel your order. Legally, they have to refund you, but it’s been a battle for one or two forum members in the past. As I say, if you want the car, shop around as a private buyer would. You will find a dealer who will take your order without a deposit.