GM cuts heated seats from some models, trimming due to chip shortages

Article content

Drivers will have to find another way to warm their asses if they buy some new vehicles from General Motors in the next few weeks.

Article content

The carmaker announced in mid-November that it will temporarily turn off heated and ventilated seat options on specific vehicles and trims, probably throughout the 2022 model.

Referring to the ongoing global chip shortage, the automaker confirmed that Car news on 12 November that certain Chevrolet and GMC lorries, cars and SUVs would be affected. Different models of models from the Cadillac and Buick brands are also affected. GM Canada confirmed that buyers would instead be offered some form of discount, although it did not account for how much. In the US, customers will get back between $ 150 and $ 500.

Affected models include Chevrolet Colorado, Blazer and Equinox and GMC Canyon and Terrain. All Chevrolet Silverados and Traverses – except the High Country trims – and all GMC Sierras and Acadias – except the Denalis – are also affected.

Article content

“Our teams are investigating ways to retrofit vehicles with some of these features when parts become available. We will provide further updates when they are available,” GM said in a statement. “Although the situation remains complex and very fluid, we remain confident. our team’s ability to continue to find creative solutions to minimize the effects of the semiconductor shortage that has affected the industry. “

In addition to pulling heated seats – one of the most popular options that customers have ticked off, News cites a recent AutoPacific study – heated steering wheels are also expected to discontinue in some models from 22 November.

Article content

The news is the latest in a series of cuts that carmakers are handling as a result of a global chip shortage.

At a time when the pandemic has affected global supply chains, semiconductor operations have been hit by particularly damaging results in recent times, affecting major car brands such as BMW, Ford and Volkswagen.

A recent report from AlixPartners, released in September last year, shows that the ongoing semiconductor shortage will cost the automotive industry $ 210 billion in lost revenue this year – almost twice as much as estimated in May.

In addition, the report cited that 7.7 million units of vehicle production could be lost by the end of the year, also an increase of 3.3 million for its forecast in May.

While some automakers such as Toyota are simply producing fewer vehicles in the meantime, experts are optimistic that blockchain of covid-19 in countries that produce chips for computers and smartphones will slow down and that supply may catch up to pre-pandemic levels by 2023.