General Motors is storing built-shy examples of its Chevy Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD pickups in a parking lot at the Bishop International Airport in Flint, Michigan.
According to The Detroit Free Press, GM has leased 16 acres of paved parking lot space at the airport in order to store thousands of Chevy Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD trucks. The pickups being stored at the airport are partially completed examples that are awaiting electronic semiconductor chips and other electronic components before being sent to dealers. This strategy, which is referred to by GM as building shy, allows the automaker to keep trucks rolling off the assembly line even if it doesn’t have all the parts necessary to complete them. The trucks are then brought back into the plant to be completed once the parts are received and shipped out to dealers.
Christopher Yeates, COO of Bishop International Airport, told the Free Press that it has had a leasing deal with GM to use the parking lot for two years – before the semiconductor chip shortage even hit. Storage lots like the one at the airport were previously used to store extra vehicle stock that was waiting to be sent to dealers.
“We’ve had an agreement with the company that GM has contracted with to store vehicles since the summer of 2019, so even before the chips shortage,” Yeates explained. “They would send trucks over as the pickups were rolling off the line. The vehicle number changes daily; they’re constantly taking them on- and off-site.”
GM pays roughly $24,000 a month to lease the parking lot from the airport – a small sum considering the high MSRP many heavy-duty trucks now carry. Other lots around Michigan are also being used in addition to the airport lot, including one owned by Michigan State University.
A Flint Assembly worker told the Free Press they believe GM was previously storing up to 25,000 trucks at various storage lots in Michigan and other states, though that number has now dropped to around 8,000 units.
GM temporarily laid off 5,000 workers at Flint Assembly last week after it was forced to idle the plant for one week due to the chip shortage. Production of the Chevy Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD at the plant restarted on Monday.
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Comments
GM should make their own CHIPS.
Naive comment… Starting a chip foundry is much harder than building cars from a technical standpoint, and GM has no experience in this field, would be a waste of money and likely turn into a fiasco. What GM should do is design their cars to use less separate processors and eliminate redundancy in their systems. I read a report recently, that even though Tesla’s have more advanced systems than GM vehicles, they have far less modules on board, less by 60% on average.
GM used to have the ability to make chips in the Tech Center.
Or or maybe design vehicles that require LESS chips and reduce the complexity in vehicles.
Just like when we hit peak car back in the 2000s
How? A high end foundry cost 40 billions dollars, take a few years to build, is a thousand time more complicated than making cars and GM doesnt have the knowledge to do this.
They were making there own chips, in Indiana untill 3 years ago. Now there making respirators in that plant instead. There idea was it was cheaper to buy from china.
Look where that thinking has got them !!!!
No, wrong kind of chips. The Indiana facility made power electronics, which are huge transistors that are made all over the world. The issue is the high-speed ultra-tiny transistor chips that only two companies in the world can make today.
Yet, the “chips” missing from these built shy trucks are made in Malaysia. Keep beating that China drum though.
General Motors made every thing from refrigerators to locomotives, i would surmise that building a locomotive would be more complex than producing a computer chip
I’ll have one to put back on their lot. Bad move Chevy not making the park assist user selectable. There is no way I can let my vehicle idle. Customer support flat out lied to me and told me it was govt. mandated. I’ll be sending this Chevy back.
What the hell does park assist have to do with idling? If you’re leaving the car idling for long periods in reverse, you’re really too old to be driving, so I strongly suggest you get rid of all your cars before you run over somebody.
My mistake. It’s called the extended pà rking
If you’re talking about the extended idle timeout, your dealer is wrong. It can be disabled. Find a better dealer and point them to TSB 21-NA-056.
I will look into that thank you.
Sam, thank you for the info. That TSB is not an easy one to find. The more I questioned about it and grilled, the dealer finally said oh ya here it is. They are going to disable it at my expense and said I need to sign a bunch of waivers which I haven’t seen yet. But at least I know it can be done. Thanks a million
I had to have a chuckle over the one comment, ” I’m going to send my Chevy back “. I did not know that automobile manufactures had a new policy.
If the Customer wasn’t happy, you simply drove or towed your CHEVY back to the Dealership, present the keys and your Bill of Sale to your Sales Representative, or the Receptionist, and they would simply and quickly provide you a refund. Will that be cash Sir or would you like it refunded to your Credit Card ? ( Great Idea Just like Wal Mart)
I’m glad you got your daily chuckle in. Now isn’t it time for your tea and crumpets?
If GM vehicles are “American Vehicles “ why are they using crap parts from China ?
You need to direct that question to Mary Barra and the gang. I would say that effects their bottom line.
I have a 2014 gmc truck and the transmission blew apart the guys at the shop say it should be a recall of faulty torque converter made in a another country this is a $7500.00 repair here in Canada.i have been a GM man for over 45 years . Time to buy a dodge
The Asian automakers are clicking their heels at the US automakers chip shortage, while they bask in available chips from their Asian chipmakers.
The Asian chipmakers are in fat city.
It a designed thing. Homeboys rule and hommies have priority.
This C 19 thing has been worked from many angles. It’s payback time for that bad ol and arrogant USA.
Here, we have the classic white guy who thinks Mainland Chinese, Taiwanese, South Koreans and Japanese are all the same “Asians”, when in fact they mutually hate or at least dislike each other.
Chips are made in Taiwan (TSMC) mainly, followed by South Korea (Samsung). Taiwan doesn’t have a significant auto industry.
The Japanese (Hitachi, Fujitsu), Americans (Intel, Motorola/Freescale/NXP), and Germans (Infineon, NXP) design chips, particularly automotive ones. South Korea (i.e. Samsung) doesn’t and therefore Hyundai/Kia buys from others (Germans largely as I understand).
The Japanese have a small amount of chip fab capability which isn’t suitable for cutting edge things like infotainment and ADAS.
So if you followed along, your Asian conspiracy is nonsense and the people getting rich aren’t the ones making cars. Again, if you learn a little about Asia, you’d know that nobody likes each other.
Wow Sam thanks for the info. But it appears you left the part out where you sound like a cuck
Hey Sam:
The Ford F150 chips come or came from a plant in China that sustained a fire. This halted chip production to Ford. This chip plant fire in China is causing Ford to stockpile F150’s until chip availability resumes.
As to ethnic rivalries, competition and dislikes, this is a global thing on all continents. I cite Europe as one example.
A sampling of the following groups / countries have a mutual dislike for each other:
Finland / Russia vice versa
Poland / Germany vice versa
England / France vice versa
France / Germany vice versa
England / Germany vice versa
Belgium / Germany. vice versa
Hungary / Russia. vice versa
Russia / Germany vice versa
Israel / Arab World. vice versa
Your Asia argument is valid. But on the world stage, regions stick together, even in dislikes. I cite the European Union and Euro Dollar.
The Asians in this chip crisis are supporting their homeboy Asian automaking Brothers. USA comes next, at the back of the chip availability bus, or truck.
An interesting comment by Gary, ” if they are American Vehicles, why are they using parts from China ” The answer is very simple. All the TOP EXECUTIVES at GM, FORD, etc. receive high compensation packages, salary, benefits, stock options, etc. etc.
And we have to be honest that the Union Wages of those in the factory are pretty good and 10-20 times better than min wage. Todays Chev 2021 Suburban costs $ 67,000 to $ 105,000 in Canada. I quickly did the math. If all the parts were made in the USA and Canada, and there were no parts used that were made in China, Mexico, Japan, or India, the cost of the 2021 Chev Suburban in Canada would start at $ 185,672.99 to $ 225,525.95 plus freight and tax. THE REASON IS SIMPLE ALSO – NO ONE WANTS TO REDUCE THEIR SALARY, BENEIFT PACKAGE, or PENSION.
For a matter of fact a vehicle that is Made in China are in par with the same quality as Made in Germany or Made in Japan.
The Buick Envision for that matter performs like a vehicle that has the same quality as a one Made in Japan because it is Made in China.
The problem is that there are no parts, we have a 2018 Envision and one of the front struts is broken along with another part necessary for the repair are on backorder. Work started on 8/10/21, to day is the 18th and the parts might ship the week of 8/23/21. Who knows when this problem will be solved.
I wonder how much GM is going to discount this vehicles sitting in parking lots because I Imagine there in 2021 calendar year . An if any of them have 8 speed in them like mine ,an should say clunking an shuddering is normal on pricing paper . Or That is a hidden option that GM Delivers.
That parking lot looks like they’re having an ugly truck contest. It looks like the Chevy is the winner but not by much.
When outsourcing/off-shoring was gaining momentum the expertise left (or was retired) with the work.
I’ve been waiting for 2021 HD LT Duramax Alaskan I ordered April 29th. A month ago I was told it’s built and I didn’t order anything on it that takes a chip. It’s manufactured and now three weeks ago I’m told it’s pulled and a detailed Quality Control inspection is being done on it. It was supposed to be delivered middle of July. Anybody else have the same issue? What’s the average wait?
Marty:
Nice truck. Good choice. There are a ton of chips in these vehicles now a days. Even with a basic stripped down vehicle you have many chips in various black boxes controlling things throughout the vehicle.
It’s a hurry up and wait game.
It took me a year from deposit to receipt for a 1998 diesel GMC 2500 Suburban. And that was before strange things that are now happening during the past couple of years.
I am employee at a dealership and I ordered my 2021 HD 3500 High country Dually on April 26th it was made into a 2022 and was put on assembly line 9/5 finished last week and this week put on hold I am beyond mad
I ordered a 2022 GMC 3500HD Denail diesel with every option. An $87,295 build. I found out the Flint Michigan plant is where it’s made. I followed the build thru my salesman and it went from being complete and shipped to hold status 4-6 weeks ago. Can’t find anything more as to when it might ship and what chips it needs to complete the build. I guess it’s on one of those leased parking lots waiting on necessary chips to build out. Getting anxious as a lot of other people. Wish there was a way to keep informed? Dealer/salesman are doing their best. Just can’t get answers. Bought a 2021 Buick Envision for my wife at the same time I ordered my truck. It has all the bells and whistles and my wife loves the crossover SUV. Got lucky with all the options it has.
Yeah, mine is a 2022 High Country 3500 Dually $82,070 tag price, I work for the dealer and can view updates everyday I am thinking the lead time once put on hold is 10 weeks as the reps wont say anything either because they don’t know or can’t… Estimating this based on a Suburban that was put on hold. I will know for sure Nov. 10th if this is the case and will post on here. I am hopeful as I ordered mine originally a 2021 but was unable to get allocation to order it with the features I wanted (All except power running boards).
I ordered my 2021 Chevy HD LT Alaskan Duramax April 29 and picked it up Sept 2. Was supposed to be dove mid July. It does not have all the sensors which is supported by the all mighty chip. If I wanted all the bells and whistles I would of had to wait until 2022. So I think I’m lucky to be able to have my truck now. I don’t need all that anyway. Been driving for 40 plus years without it. I sure don’t need it now.
I understand, I wanted all of the features of course I did not need them but I definitely wanted them! I hope mine ships by November