Photo: Shane Clausing

By Shane Clausing

Vehicle shortage “worst it’s ever been”: local auto dealer

Dec 3, 2021 | 11:21 AM

An ongoing parts shortage is hitting home at Medicine Hat auto dealership lots, leaving motorists with diminishing choices.

Davis GMC Buick general manager Michael Heddema says “”this is the worst it’s been so far” concerning the shortage of vehicles to sell.

And, pointing to a black Buick Encore SUV he said, “that’s my new car department right now,” noting it was the only new vehicle on his lot today.

He added new vehicles are coming into his lot at a trickle, at best

The supply has been dropping off for months across North America, following a shortage of computer chips.

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Analysts say there’s been a subsequent drop in sales of new light vehicles, down almost 14% in November over the same month a year ago.

Heddema says the changes have meant what he calls some tough choices.

“(We) had to make some staff decisions. There’s .. obviously when you don’t have the level of business you had before you don’t meet the level of support inside the business. You know, it’s been hard. It’s been a tough year,” Heddema told CHAT News.

Other Medicine Hat dealerships, like Sun City Ford, are also seeing empty lot space.

The provincial association representing car dealers say it’s a common problem, and it’s being enflamed by B.C.’s flooding.

“For the manufacturers who import vehicles from overseas they come into the Vancouver port. It appears we’ve run out of highways,” Gerald Wood , president of the Motor Dealers’ Association of Alberta said.

The shortage has left many consumers with two options: buying used or pre-ordering new. But you’ll be waiting longer for a pre-order than you used to, from the former six to eight weeks rising to up to possibly three months – or longer.

“There ‘s all kind of extreme cases that talk about it being a lot longer (than 3 months)’ Wood said.

But as for when will car lots start to fill up again, a recent report by Scotiabank says shortages could continue in North America into 2023.

Heddema, however, says he’s been told by a manufacturer improvement could come early next year.