How to Buy a Car in the Chip Shortage

With the current chip shortage in effect, it can be difficult for Kansas City drivers to find diverse selections of vehicles in stock at their local dealerships. Oftentimes, pricing for vehicles is high too, because the shortage has created massive demand. Thankfully, Mercedes-Benz of Wichita has found a solution to this problem. We’ll sell you vehicles without chips, and install them in your car for free as soon as chip production has recovered! 

Take a moment to learn more about the car chip shortage and how Mercedes-Benz of Wichita is circumventing this problem, so you can buy a new Mercedes-Benz vehicle near Merriam. Then, contact us to book some test drives! 

What is the Chip Shortage? 

It’s estimated that a modern vehicle features anywhere from 1,400 to 3,000 chips, and that the automotive industry makes up 15 percent of the world’s chip production. From 2020 to 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic, a drought in Taiwan, and the China-U.S. Trade War, converged to create a massive semiconductor chip shortage. 

The pandemic required factories to temporarily suspend activity, which caused investment in chip production to drop dramatically. The China-U.S. Trade War made it more difficult for chip producers to sell to foreign buyers. Finally, many chip factories are in Taiwan, and massive amounts of fresh water in Taiwan are required for production, so the drought slowed production and increased prices.

How Does This Affect You? 

Because of these production issues, many automakers were unable to meet their yearly production objectives. This means that there are far more car buyers on the market than there are cars for sale in greater Salina. If you’re finding it difficult to find inventory while car shopping because of the chip shortage, Mercedes-Benz of Wichita has found a way to replenish our inventory during these trying times. 

As for Mercedes-Benz, the brand is experiencing a low supply of the Hermes Communication Module. If you’re considering an A-Class, GLA, GLB, CLA, GLC, E-Class, or CLS, you can expect your model to be affected by the HCM chip shortage.This chip powers the following features: Mercedes me Connect Standard Services, Extended MBUX Functions, Live Traffic Information, Map Updates, Navigation Services, Remote Services and Remote Services Plus, Digital Key Handover services, URBAN GUARD Vehicle Protection, Protection Plus, Concierge Services, the Energizing Package, Energizing Package Plus, and more. 

How Can Mercedes-Benz of Wichita Help? 

While many manufacturers have ceased or significantly delayed production, Mercedes-Benz has found a way forward. We’re now producing models without the HCM chip. This allows us to get access to the Mercedes-Benz model that you’re looking for. You’ll still enjoy the same exquisite cabin appointments, exterior styling, and high performance of your Mercedes-Benz model, and when production for the HCM chip catches up with demand, we’ll install it on your vehicle for free, so you can have access to all of the software that relies on it! 

• With 30 plus years of experience, our mechanics are more than equipped to retrofit your Mercedes-Benz with a HMC chip. 
• We’ll work on your car, regardless of whether you bought it in- or out-of-state.

Test Drive New Mercedes-Benz Vehicles at Mercedes-Benz of Wichita Today! 

Now that you’ve brushed up on the car chip shortage, if you’d like to test drive our vehicles without HCM chips, or you’re curious about retrofitting protocol, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our number is 316-221-3482. Our experts are on standby to answer your questions. In the meantime, explore our new vehicle specials, and reach out to our financiers to begin negotiating for a low interest rate! We look forward to helping you find a vehicle you love! While you’re here, be sure to explore our Mercedes-Benz research guides for information about Mercedes-Benz news and more information about the history of the brand! And don’t forget to read our overview of how to trade in a car while you’re here!