If you plan on buying a new car anytime soon, you might want to reconsider when you consider the extensive delays that motorists are facing right now. If you were to buy new right now, you might find yourself waiting for up to a year for your car depending on the manufacturer. It is for this reason that many motorists are flooding the used car market right now and why many dealerships are struggling to keep pace.
Why is There a Delay?
As you might imagine, COVID-19 has a lot to do with the delays. This is because there is a mass global microchip shortage right now, which is grinding the production of new cars to a much slower pace. These chips are used in many different parts of a modern day vehicle and it is thought that the shortage could continue into 2023. The shortage occurred after auto manufacturers and other purchasers of microchips slashed their orders during the pandemic, which resulted in semiconductor plants reducing their production.
How Long is the Delay?
Some motorists have been waiting over a year for their new car to arrive and this could continue to be an issue for some time. In ordinary times, motorists would wait between 1 and 2 months, but now motorists are facing much lengthier waits usually around 6 months but often longer depending on the manufacturer and demand.
How to Avoid Delays
If you have your heart set on a brand new car, there is currently not much that you can do to avoid delays. You can ask for a delivery date in writing, but even this may not mean much with the situation still so desperate. You can push dealers to sell their showroom stock and demonstration vehicles. If you opt for a km zero car they will often give you a substantial discount on the list price.
A good alternative is simply to browse used cars for sale as you will not have to wait and you can find excellent used cars for sale that are much more affordable. The used car market can be a great place to find a high-quality and affordable car without any delays – just be sure to buy from a reputable dealer and check the vehicle over.
Motorists that have plans of buying new anytime soon need to seriously consider their decision and check the latest on the microchip shortage. This is causing chaos in the automotive industry right now with production issues expected to go on for some time and motorists having to wait as long as a year to get behind the wheel of their new car.
