NEW CAR MANUFACTURING DELAYS FAQ


What is happening and why?

Whilst the pandemic has not gone away, we are now on a journey of getting our everyday lives back to some form of normality.

However, our continued reliance on IT devices means that there is now a global semi-conductor chip shortage. What started as an inconvenience for those looking to buy household electrical items has now made its way to the automotive industry.

This is because semi-conductor chips are also used in vehicle manufacturing, so the global shortage is now directly impacting the number of vehicles that can be built for the foreseeable future.

Why are chips so important?

A vehicle’s touchscreen is essentially a computer, but that is only one area where chips play a vital role. For instance, safety features including automatic emergency braking systems, backup cameras, and even airbag deployment systems can be controlled by chips.

A car’s connectivity features will also need chips and some cars might even have chips in the engine to help improve efficiency and lower emissions, AZoM reports.

Is this only a jaguar land rover problem?

The lack of chips means all car manufacturers have been affected by supply issues leading to temporary shutdowns at some factories. A statement from Jaguar Land Rover read:

“We're working closely with affected suppliers to resolve the issues and minimise the impact on customer orders wherever possible."

Does this affect the entire range?

Unfortunately, yes. Jaguar Land Rover have set up a task force to limit the damage from the chip shortage, which it describes as a 'full-time mission control centre' to manage the issue, Chief Financial Officer Adrian Mardell confirmed.

How long will I have to wait?

At Marshall we are experiencing record breaking levels of customer orders across the entire range. As a valued customer of Marshall we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible to discuss the various options available to you and mitigate the impact of these delays on your next vehicle purchase.

In the “new normal”, vehicle delays of more than 12 months will not be uncommon, therefore if you are considering changing your current vehicle in the next 2 years please get in touch.