A granddad says he's been forced to walk his grandchildren to school in the rain because his £37,000 Land Rover still hasn't been built a year after ordering it.
Michael Finnerty, 68, from Sheldon in Birmingham, bought the Discovery Sport through Jaguar Land Rover's employee purchase scheme back in May 2021.
Michael - who worked for the manufacturer for two decades - laid down an initial £1,000 deposit at the time, but is yet to be given a build date, he tells Birmingham Live.
The car firm revealed the reason for the major delays is due to a disruption in the supply chain, including a shortage of semiconductors worldwide - which started during the pandemic.
Michael, 68, 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."
When the former production supervisor left Jaguar in 2005, he bought a Land Rover. After 17 happy years and many thousands of miles, he decided to purchase another one last year.
But since then Michael, from Sheldon, said he had been left baffled as his order was cancelled and changed multiple times, Birmingham Live reports.
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 granddad 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."
