In 2022, the automobile sector was severely handicapped by chip shortage, with the consequences of the pandemic compounding the situation further. Several firms are still suffering the effects of the shortage, with many predicting that supply concerns would continue to plague the sector far beyond 2022.
The problem stems from the fact that this pandemic extended far longer than people really thought it would, and hence, all forms of production were put to a standstill, including the semiconductor industry. This occurred during a time of massive chip utilization, where most devices implement chips, like vehicles.
Now that these productions have stopped, all available chips have been stretched thin and the worst industry that got hit by this chip shortage is the automobile industry. I suppose it is the price to pay to play FIFA while your tesla is self-driving.
Not for these three cars though
This chip shortage has caused showrooms to be empty or straight up-close shops, leaving many anxious about their new vehicle purchase. Luckily, we have put together a small list of cars that kept producing despite the chip shortages.
But do note that the list might not be of ample availability in every region but for us, these were easier to find and you may not have the same luck. However, what we can guarantee is that these vehicles have a higher chance of being available than other cars.
The 2021 Jeep compass
Doing a wide survey, it was seen that this car is still found with relative ease around car lots. This car is your literal “Family Car”. It is reliable, it is stylish and a general-purpose car and will do everything, from going to work, picking up your kids from school to family vacation.
The Jeep is powered by an inline-four 2.4-liter engine. It has a 9-speed automatic transmission that is capable of achieving a max of 180 horsepower. Of course, this is not the fastest car around, even with the chip shortage, this car takes about 9.8 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph, with a max speed of 126 mph. Normally we would like to recommend a faster jeep but they are gone (a terrible joke I know).
Lastly, this car comes with all the goodness you have come to expect from jeeps, this means 6 speakers, safety measures to keep your family safe, and six months of satellite radio.
The 2021 Nissan Altima
I have a spot for sedans. It’s something about their sleek and areo-dynamic design that keeps me in awe, and the Altima is no different. This mid-size Altima is one of those cars that are abundant across car lots which is great news as this car is a real winner amongst reviewers.
The Altima sports a 2.5-liter inline-four engine. This allows it to achieve 188 horsepower at 6000 rpm and a torque of 180 lb-ft at 3000 rpm. Not only can the car punch above its weight when it comes to speed, but is also fuel-efficient. Reviews claim that this car can go 28 mpg in cities and 39 on the highway. These are impressive numbers when the price of fuel is fluctuating like a roller-coaster.
The 2021 Ram 1500 Classic
The truck market was hit the hardest with this chip shortage. This is partly due to the fact that most modern trucks use computational power to adjust suspension height according to the terrain.
However, the chip shortage didn’t stop RAM from producing their 1500 Classic in bulk. This is amazing news as this truck is a fan favorite, a monster on the road as well as being stylish by paying homage to the trucks of old.
This variant of the RAM is powered by a 5.7-litre V8 engine. The transmission is an 8-speed. And the engine can go as much as 395 horsepower at 5600 rpm. As a truck, it has a great carrying capacity, with a max payload capacity of 1600 lbs, and can tow up to 10,420 lbs.
