Car Supply To Dealers Still Trails Demand

by Debby Stricker

Bergkoetter’s Chevrolet-Buick dealer Ron Bergkoetter can hardly keep new cars on the lot. The supply comes slowly, mostly due to a shortage of computer chips needed in manufacturing.

“It’s not getting any better,” he said of the vehicle delivery slow-down that is approaching 1 1/2 years.  A three month strike by  the United Auto Workers against General Motors halted production in late 2019 and early 2020. That was followed by a two month shut-down when COVID restrictions started in March 2020, which in turn contributed to a shortage of computer chips which is further slowing production.

Bergkoetter would like to have 30 new vehicles on the lot. He currently has four. 

Read the full story in this week’s issue.