Automakers New Sales Strategy a Worrisome Industry Trend
The auto industry's computer chip shortage isn't getting any better. After initially trying to stall for time by building vehicles without the necessary computer chips, but keeping them in the lot to install them later, car manufacturers are now selling those chip-less vehicles to customers.
Citing a report in Automotive News, The Verge reports Ford (NYSE: F) will begin shipping Explorers to dealers and to tell customers they'll get those non-safety-related chips to them within the coming year. That means the new vehicles won't have some of the creature comforts consumers consider to be basic amenities, such as rear heating or air conditioning.
Because demand for new vehicles continues to outrun supply, the development suggests dramatically falling sales is no longer a tenable position for automakers, which now need to convince car buyers to accept vehicles that aren't fully functional. It may not be so easy to keep those promises.
Source Fool.com
