As I am hearing in the media, and also see as I drive by dealers, there is a shortage of new cars apparently due to a semiconductor shortage. apparently this shortage will bleed into 2022.
Any guesses how long it will take auto manufactures to de-content electronics from vehicles to use less chips so they can product more vehicles with the limited supply of chips they do have?
Apparently GM has removed the active fuel management from some pickups. I have also heard that some vehicles are only being being delivered with one key to save on the conductors.
Will this shortage change how cars are designed in the future? Thoughts?
I have no plan on buying a new car, but I wonder if this will also cause issues with cheep parts See a lot of recalls and warrantee issues in the future.
Redesigning the boards and manufacturing the new designs will take longer than the shortage will last. They can in some cases remove options not necessary for the vehicle to function )or any of several infotainment options). Going forward though, I think you will see fewer computers, AND the suppliers that screwed the auto manufacturers over won't be suppliers any longer by the next design cycle.
Whats the full accurate story on the shortage? Covid stopping the mining / processing / shipping? If so it would all depend on how that or possible future outbreaks are handled. We really need to stop importing so much and create more things here so we can sustain our own country's independence.
Whats the full accurate story on the shortage? Covid stopping the mining / processing / shipping? If so it would all depend on how that or possible future outbreaks are handled. We really need to stop importing so much and create more things here so we can sustain our own country's independence.
I have heard a couple of different stories. Any or all of them are up for speculation.
The automakers reduced their orders in anticipation of decreased demand. In conjunction with that, the demand for "home electronics" - gaming consoles, phones, and other "quarantine activity" devices - jumped greatly. That being the case, the chip manufacturers shifted their production to accommodate.
I have also heard that there is a drought in Taiwan, where many of these chips are produced. Water is apparently required for the production process. Apparently that water is more urgently needed elsewhere.
But this doesn't just affect the auto industry. It also affects the computer industry. We're having some difficulty acquiring computers for a leased machine life-cycle replacements. I've also heard comments about video cards being made of unobtainium, these days.
With all of that said, there are so many emission devices, safety devices and other government-mandated "nannyware" installed in cars, that I don't see a huge reduction being possible. A BCM is still a BCM, whether it just runs the instruments, or runs the power windows, cruise control, headlights, and other stuff. A "smaller" one may be able to be designed, but I suspect that the lead time would be longer than the resumption of production.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 07-08-2021).]
Yeah thanks to the shortages, and the mass effort into crypto mining, video cards, especially high powered gaming ones, are hard to get, or if you do find them, they are priced ridiculously high.. Even gaming cards that are 5 years old are still going for $700 - $800 price range.
Apparently Nvidia is working on a new line of crypto mining cards built for that purpose, so hopefully before too long the prices will start to drop on the gaming cards.
I'v been rocking a 1080 for a while now, wanted to upgrade to one of those newer 2080's, but those are still going for like $1200.. Heck even an old 980 is selling for around $500..
I know people who buy a "prebuilt" PC from like Dell/Alienware, or other companies just so they can get the video cards out of them. Since the PC will cost around $1000 - $1500, may as well get a entire computer instead of paying $1200 just for the video card. lol.
I think it would be cool and very refreshing for an auto manufacturer to actually bring back previous models. Research the ones that sold the best and most reliable etc. and bring them back with MINOR upgrades and advancements. Did I say minor? Yes, very minor.
For example: GM could bring back the 88-98 GMT400 truck platform, put a non-DOD LS in it and whatever the best /most reliable transmission research would reveal (possibly 4l80? or another newer model with more gears that actually hold up if there is such a thing).
REAL research would be key in this endeavor. As well as they would have to get over the newer is better mentality, if that is even possible.
Just my thought,
Brian
[This message has been edited by BHall71 (edited 07-09-2021).]
I think it would be cool and very refreshing for an auto manufacturer to actually bring back previous models. Research the ones that sold the best and most reliable etc. and bring them back with MINOR upgrades and advancements. Did I say minor? Yes, very minor.
For example: GM could bring back the 88-98 GMT400 truck platform, put a non-DOD LS in it and whatever the best /most reliable transmission research would reveal (possibly 4l80? or another newer model with more gears that actually hold up if there is such a thing).
REAL research would be key in this endeavor. As well as they would have to get over the newer is better mentality, if that is even possible.
Just my thought,
Brian
Only company doing this in VERY limited numbers, is DeLorean Houston
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has completed a regulation permitting low volume motor vehicle manufacturers to begin selling replica cars that resemble vehicles produced at least 25 years ago. Congress enacted a DeLorean Motor Company-backed bill backed by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) DeLorean Motor Company, and others into law in 2015, which streamlined requirements for small automakers, but implementation was delayed while awaiting the NHTSA regulations. Companies like DeLorean will now be able to apply for authorization to produce and sell vehicles under this program.
It's only possible in very small quantities and very high price tags. Old cars would never pass modern safety regulations, and you could just imagine the lawsuits that would result from average joe blow getting injured in crashes in old style vehicles sold new without these kinds of regulations specifically bypassing them.
