Shortage

Czech car sector to make 250,000 fewer vehicles this year due to chip shortage By Reuters

By Michael J. Moody 4 days ago

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Cars are parked in the courtyard of Skoda Auto’s factory in Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic, as the company restarts production after shutting downdue to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) . Picture taken in Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic, Apr

PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech car makers will produce quarter a million fewer cars than expected this year due to the global shortage of chips and the automotive sector will lose 200 billion crowns ($9.14 billion) in sales, the Auto Industry Association (AutoSAP) said on Sunday.

AutoSAP said domestic passenger car production dropped by 53.1% in September year-on-year, to 56,157 cars.

It said the chip shortage impact would exceed that of pandemic shutdowns last year, and called on the government to activate an aid programme created amid the coronavirus pandemic last year to compensate firms for wages of idled workers.

AutoSAP said production rose 2.9% year–on-year cumulatively in the January-September

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Used cars prices up 38% in Springfield from last year, also increasing nationwide amid microchip shortage

By Michael J. Moody 3 weeks ago

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – If you’re looking for a used car, around the Springfield-area or elsewhere, you might have to save up a little more than usual for one.

A new study from iSeeCars.com, automotive research firm, analyzed trends from more than 1.9 million used car sales nationwide in the month of August. CLICK HERE for the study

It found that used car prices in August increased on average by 26.2%, or $6,454, over the past 12 months. The mark is slightly down from a 31.6 percent increase reported in July.

According to a iSeeCars.com spokesperson, prices in the Springfield, Missouri, area increased on average by 37.9%, or $9,327, over the past year.

The study reported the following findings:

  • The vehicles with the highest price increases are a mix of economy cars and impractical cars.
  • Cars with the smallest price bumps are mainly luxury SUVs.
  • Used car prices
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GM might lose 90-year U.S. sales crown over chip shortage

By Michael J. Moody 3 weeks ago

Automotive News editor Nick Bunkley tweeted on October 1 that according to AutoNews data, General Motors “has been the largest seller of vehicles in the U.S. every year since passing Ford in 1931.” With automakers having turned in light car and truck sales data for the first three quarters of 2021, GM’s 90-year-run might not reach 91. According to AN figures, Toyota was 80,401 vehicles ahead when the October workday started. Worse, GM is so far behind its historic pace that it might only sell enough light vehicles in the U.S. to match its numbers from 1958. 

Meanwhile, the New York Times put a few more salient numbers to the pain GM and Toyota are enduring alongside the the rest of the industry. GM sold 33% fewer cars in Q3 2021 than it did in Q3 2019 during the dark days of the pandemic, 446,997 units this year as opposed

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Microchip shortage delays car repairs, increases auto sales

By Michael J. Moody 3 weeks ago

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Over the past year, a shortage of microchips has impacted car manufacturing.

Paul Flogel is the Program Director for the Automotive Technology Department at Madison College. He says the tiny pieces are having a big impact.

“You talk about one small little thing, but it’s multiple small little things,” said Flogel.

He says computer technology in cars has grown steadily over the past 30 years.

“The same type of technology in your phones and home computers are in our vehicle. It’s the same type of thing,” said Flogel.

Mechanics around the Madison area are adapting and fixing what they can on cars.

“We deal with the shortages,” said Flogel. “We’ll modify and we’ll do things to make it happen.”

He says some repairs need the right parts.

“Sometimes it’s just a wait. That’s kind of the hard part because we’re not used to doing that,” said

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