The Washington Postreports that the automotive industry may produce a whopping 1 million fewer cars than usual this year, largely due to the same supply chain issues and chip shortages that caused toy shortages around the world and grocery shortages around the country. Even used cars are much more expensive and scarce than ever before: Dealers are reportedly paying 27% more for pre-owned vehicles than they did just one year ago, according to The New York Times—and that expense, of course, gets passed on to consumers as well. The supply for used cars in relation to their demand is impacted by not just the chip shortage leading most drivers to hang on to their vehicles longer, but also due to climate change: Severe flooding in summer 2021 damaged many vehicles, once more creating a spike in demand for customers unlucky enough to have water-logged vehicles. Find out what cars are hard to find and buy right now and when we may be able to expect the car shortage to end.
Which cars are having a shortage and hard buy right now?
Jake Fisher of Consumer Reports Auto Test Center explained, “The car shortage isn’t affecting every model the same way, so consumers can take advantage of the forgotten corners of the auto market. Now more than ever, it really pays to do a lot of research before you commit to anything.”
Acura and Honda
Honda and Acura models are hard to come by due to supply chain problems and the chip shortage. Executive vice president of operations at American Hondo Co., Dave Gardner, said in a statement to Biz Journals, “We appreciate the patience of our customers as our associates, our suppliers and our dealers continue working to supply Honda and Acura products to meet their needs.”
Audi
Audi is reportedly facing shortages of its popular Q7 and Q8 models. CEO Markus Duesmann told Reuters that the chip shortage combined with supply chain issues and the pandemic essentially combined to create “a perfect storm,” explaining “We had a very strong first half in 2021. We do expect a much weaker second half. We really have trouble.”
BMW and Mini
BMWfaced production pauses, leading to some shortages of the hybrid X1 and X2 models. Mini Coopers were also impacted.
Buick
Buick Enclave models will reportedly be in short supply, in part because of General Motors plant shutdowns.
Cadillac
Certain Cadillac plants have had extended shutdowns due to supply chain issues, leading to shortages of XT4, XT5, and XT6 models.
Chevrolet
There will be shortages of Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Blazer, Malibu, and Traverse models due to production changes at GM plants.
Dodge
Supply chain problems, layoffs, and production disruptions may lead to a shortage of Dodge Durango models, per Automotive News.
Ford
Pauses in production at certain Ford plants will reportedly lead models including the Bronco Sport, Explorer, F-150, and Mustang to be in high demand, but low supply. Ford reportedly will produce 1 million fewer vehicles this year than their average output.
GMC
The GMC Acadia will reportedly be in short supply due to production plant breaks.
Hyundai
Various Hyundai models are facing shortages thanks to the semiconductor chip shortage, according to Reuters.
Jaguar, Land Rover, and Range Rover
Due to the global chip shortage, U.K. automobiles are also affected: Jaguar temporarily suspended production of its F, XE, and XF models, as well as Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque models, leading to limited supplies of each.
Jeep
Specific factory layoffs led to shortages of Jeep Grand Cherokee models.
Kia
Temporary suspensions of operations at certain Kia manufacturers caused a shortage of the popular Telluride model.
Mercedes-Benz
Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes-Benz? Maybe not this year: Ola Kaellenius, CEO of parent company Daimler AG, said chip shortages have led to short supplies of the luxury vehicles. “We hope to be able to stabilize the situation in the fourth quarter, and take that to the next level in 2022,” he told Reuters, noting that there’s no certainty that the situation will be resolved by then—so the automaker will have to remain “flexible.” The C-Class, GLC, and EQC models are particularly scarce.
Mitsubishi
According to Car and Driver, Mitsubishi vehicles manufactured in Okazaki and Mizushima, Japan, and Thailand will face production slowdowns.
Nissan
According to Nikkei (via Reuters), Nissan cut their production of various models by 30% for October and November, and the ongoing chip shortage will likely affect the brand into 2022.
Subaru
Upon the shutdown of an Indiana factory, Subaru faced limited production of its Ascent, Impreza, Legacy, and the ever-popular Outback models.
Toyota
The New York Timesreports that Toyota will cut production by 15% in November 2021 due to semiconductor chip shortages, leading to very limited supplies of various models.
Volkswagen
Various Volkswagen models are in short supply. Volkswagen Group of America CEO Scott Keogh warned Reuters, “Without a doubt, this shortage is going to go well into 2022, at least the second half of ‘22.” He added that the chip shortage has forced the company to approach their manufacturing differently, explaining, “Historically, we’ve made the decision as if chips were nearly infinite, so each and every module required a chip—every window lift, every modulator. [There are] ways that we start to look at it when we develop the cars, can we do more modules with less chips? It can be done. These are all things we are looking at.”
When will the car shortage end?
The end of the car shortage is largely dependent on the semiconductor chip shortage, which means we may be facing this problem for quite a while, with everything from new and used cars to video gaming systems (yep, the chip shortage is the culprit behind PlayStation 5’s notorious elusiveness, too). Intel CEO Patrick Gelsinger announced that the semiconductor chip supply likely won’t meet its demand for about another two years, so supply chains will remain impacted. Auto industry expert Sam Abuelsamid explained to Consumer Reports, “It’s likely that car buyers will be paying more for new vehicles, at least through the next year and perhaps longer. Most automakers are facing production cuts, which in turn means a limited inventory of new products on dealer lots. Low inventory means reduced or nonexistent discounts and deals on new vehicles.” Still, even though vehicles will be pricier, he warns, now isn’t the time to sit idly by if you really need a new vehicle—just make sure to do a lot of research and be open to different options. “There is very little on dealer lots to actually sell,” he said. “If you anticipate needing a new car in the next six months, it’s probably best not to wait. Go ahead and place a factory order now.” Next, these cheap grocery list ideas will help you save money and stay on budget!
