And another pickup truck just got hit by the microchip shortage. The Detroit News reported yesterday that Jeep Gladiator would be taking a hiatus next week, and we received verification today that the Toledo South Assembly plant will halt Gladiator production from August 2 through August 8.
Stellantis North America also confirmed this is a direct result of the global microchip shortage.
“Stellantis continues to work closely with our suppliers to mitigate the manufacturing impacts caused by the various supply chain issues facing our industry,” said Jodi Tinson, Stellantis NA spokesperson, in an official statement.
So, while the automaker is working toward a longer-term solution, the short-term fix is taking a break.
We previously reported that the General Motors full-size trucks would be on hiatus this week, and both Ram 1500 and Ford F-150 have been hit by production cuts as well.
While there are varying opinions about when this microchip shortage will be over, the general consensus is that things won’t start to normalize until early 2022 – and that’s assuming the Delta variant doesn’t force us into another lockdown.
Why is this teeny-tiny chip so important? Well, in the vehicle world, it powers everything from navigation to HD radio to the auto stop/start fuel savings system. So, while some of these features can be cut, there comes a point where the automaker is taking away too much and giving the consumer too little in return (we’ve heard $50 to $75 credits for some of the features GM is ditching).
The bottom line on Jeep Gladiator production
Let’s be honest, the Jeep Gladiator is a niche midsize truck with middle-of-the-pack sales numbers. Shutting down production for a week isn’t going to hurt Jeep as much as shutting down Silverado production for a week will hurt Chevrolet.
Covid-19 has thrown us all for a loop, and we just must be patient as we get to the other side. New truck pricesare going up. Used truck prices are bonkers. So, at the end of the day, my advice is still: If you don’t have to buy a new (or new-to-you) truck at this very moment, wait. Just, wait.
Let automakers get caught up, and let someone else pay the premium on what’s available.
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