Dealer lot was empty

Yup I paid a deposit in late October 2020 and didn't see the bike till February 2021. A few days after I took delivery Specialized raised the MSRP by $1500.

 

Hmm, where are the "conspiracy theorists" that say this is all bogus and somewhere out there is a massive lot with all these cars waiting to be released to dealers, a few at a time to keep the prices high.

 

My tin foil hat thinks the "chip shortage" is really companies that make them holding back to raise prices.

 

I'm actually employed by a large chip manufacturing company and can neither confirm nor deny that.

 

The data is very interesting. It seems like the shortage is primarily due to over-demand and not lack of supply. I don't know what the factory capacity is, but Toyota is selling more Tacomas per month than before the pandemic.

 

The story I've heard is that the chip production companies make more money producing chips for cell phones than for car electronics. I don't remember the figures but cell phone sales in the US alone is phenomenal. Check this link for I-Phones alone:
https://www.news.com.au/technology/...n/news-story/32361d934aa11275abf79122480a91e0
"More I-Phones are sold each day than babies born"
Yeah, It's Australia but that was the quickest link I found.

 

Last weekend I drove to my dealership. They had 2 used Tacomas and 0 new ones on the lot and only a hand full of new cars, been this way for months. Glad I bought when I did. Guy I work with just ordered the same truck SRSX and he is paying $2500 more for a 2wd version than I paid for my 4X4 back in December 2019.

 

Toyota does seem to be suffering worse than others for some reason-Tacomas in particular. Most dealer listings are stock photos as they are advertising vehicles on the way that have not arrived yet (as my case). I found out by calling on listings that most were already spoken for with money down. I got lucky with mine as it was still available originally scheduled to arrive in mid-July, then I called back a few days later and they said it would be late June so I took a chance and put $$ down and signed the purchase contract rather than losing the truck. 7 days later and the truck is in. Can't wait to go pick it up in the next day or two.

 

The only Toyotas in short supply around here are Tacomas, Tundras, and 4Runners. Everything else is decently stocked, with an overflow of new/used Camry's and used Highlanders. SOOOO many Highlanders, it's ridiculous.

 

Surprisingly, from what I've heard Toyota actually (at least did?) had a stockpile of chips and weren't affected as much as others. Their decision to have a reserve of chips (as well as manufacuturing their own) came after the 2011 earthquake/tsunami which caused a chip shortage. Perhaps it's just a case of demand exceeding supply, external factors aside.

 

I didn't read pages 2-3 yet so maybe someone else covered this. Factories are making stuff, the issue is the demand for electronic components is so high that there is not enough to go around. Shortage isn't due to normal demand, shortage is due to extremely high demand.

 

Well, this certainly is not just a Toyota thing. The Days Chevrolet new car lot in north Atlanta is completely empty! I am an old Corvette guy and liked to go there and check out their new Vette inventory from time to time, but right now there is nothing to look at. But the Days Chevrolet used car lot right next door is loaded with stuff to buy if you are willing to pay!

 

Ordered mine March 27th. It was still far enough up the line that we were able to change options! Picked it up June 9th. My guy said they had a total of 9 new cars on site that weren't already under deposit. They could only sell 4wd Tacos off the factory line. This is in New England - obv YMMV

 

Bless your heart.

 

Yet as real income fell people ran out an bought all kinds of toys and houses.

At some point people are just going to run out of paycheck and demand will plummet

 

Only 2...yes 2 Camry's in my dealerships lot. Nothing else!! Glad I got my 2021 Tacoma last fall.

 

Low inventory of Tacomas and 4Runners throughout North Carolina. My local Toyota dealership is charging a $2,500 markup on Tacomas. It’s not just Toyota. Ford, Chevrolet dealers in my city are completely empty. On the other hand, the Honda dealership here has great supply.

 

$2500 and to think in late 2018 they were offering a $1500 rebate on top of the marked down price when I bought my 3rd gen.

 

Is there a cylinder shortage? Toyota looks like they are building more 4cyl trucks than 6cyl trucks.