General Motors Removing Heated Seats From Crossovers, Pickups Due To Chip Shortage
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It was recently revealed that General Motors is removing heated seats from a variety of crossover and pickup models, with heated steering wheels and ventilated seats also on the chopping block. The new changes are due to the ongoing microchip shortage.
Per a recent report from Automotive News, the feature deletion will go into effect starting next week on November 15th. Meanwhile, some range-topping trim levels may continue to offer heated seats.
The feature reduction is said to affect over a dozen nameplates, including the Chevy Colorado, Chevy Blazer, Chevy Equinox, GMC Canyon, and GMC Terrain. The Chevy Silverado and Chevy Traverse are also affected, with the exception of High Country trim levels, as are GMC Sierra and GMC Acadia models, with the exception of Denali trim levels.
Affected vehicles may also delete ventilated seats and the heated steering wheel. The heated steering wheel feature will be eliminated from several of the same vehicles starting November 22nd.
The changes are expected to remain in place through the 2022 model year. Looking ahead, the inclusion of these features with affected models in the future hinges on the availability of microchip supplies.
Customers affected by these changes will receive some kind of credit compensation, which could range between $150 and $500. It’s also possible that some models may be retrofitted with heated and ventilated seats when parts are available again in the future.
General Motors also indicated that it will reinstate a few features previously eliminated due to the microchip shortage, including digital temperature displays for some pickup models.
Unfortunately for customers, the deletion of heated seats could prove to be a major issue, given the huge popularity of the feature. The deletion of heated seats is the latest General Motors casualty in the ongoing chip shortage, with the automaker forced to cut production from a variety of facilities around the world, although some production has been reinstated as supplies fluctuate. The latest indication is that the chip shortage may last into the 2023 calendar year.
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This is about more than heated seats. I’ve been a GM loyalist my entire life. I’m not wealthy. An Acadia SLT lease is the highest I can go. So for those saying “just leave GM then,” or “buy a higher trim,” that’s missing the point. GM, in my opinion, seems to have shifted its priority to it’s high end buyers. I’m not naive, I know the profit margins are best in the Denali, High Country pickups, and Escalades. But GM used to offer competitive products at all price points. To reduce content at the midrange and focus on high end customers, you’re going to lose mid- and low- range customers. Those are customers who aspire to one day shop high end. Put a bad taste in their mouth on their way up and you may lose them forever. I never thought I’d consider a non GM-brand, but if these trends continue my next lease might have to be from another company – one that understands the mid-range lessees and buyers and finds ways to put the features they expect in the vehicles their plunking a lot if their hard earned money on.
As of yesterday, I was waiting for the new 2023 Colorado that has been touted by the media over the last two weeks. It looks as though I will have to switch to a different brand. Short sighted decisions to send chip manufacturing was such a bright idea. These corporations will do anything to save a nickel for a larger compensation package by the board of directors. Need bigger yachts! If this happens, you have lost me GM. Life long GM buyer here…..David
Is the Terrain Denali included in this mess or am I safe? Have one on order since June 2, as I left showroom I told salesman “see you in 6 to 8” I meant weeks not months. Maybe build these vehicles so either chips or PC boards can be insalled later. We (wife) will not accept this car without heated seats or steering wheel!
I think your safe Todd I also interested in a terrain denali and thinking the same thing but if Denali trim is not affected we are good but since the delays keep continuing might as well call it 2023 terrain Denali and who knows they might put back the 2.0 l engine I will be happy with the 2.0 LSY . If we are lucky enough!
This is what the US automakers get for outsourcing to offshore companies, especially China. If the chips were made here in the US they wouldn’t be in this situation. How much more do the chips cost to be made domestically? At the current price of new vehicles do you really think it would really make a difference? If it’s the environmental issue in the manufacturing of the chips, figure out how to make a “clean” chip. It can be done if the market demands it.
The chip shortage isn’t the necessarily a deal breaker but the $5-25000 most dealers are tacking onto sticker prices is. Who would have thought so many would be willing to pay it?
Heated seats, steering wheels, engine blocks, mirrors, rear windows etc should be standard on all models in Canada. We get ripped off from the manufacturers on these features.
Well your hands and ass will be cold but they are still firing OnStar chips in every single one of them.
I had planned to buy a new GMC Terrain Denali this year to replace my 2018. Of course they didn’t make the Denali trim this year so I thought I’d wait to 2022. Now I can’t get the bigger engine, and now no heated seats and wheel which WILL be a deal breaker for the wife. If you got the $$ you should be able to get WHATEVER you want. GMC will have one less sale this year – mine.
Here’s a great idea; Let’s design the world’s most complex computer chips and outsource the fabrication to Malaysia, Taiwan, China, the Philippines and other far away countries so we can show the stockholders how great we are at generating profit! In my town, Intel built a multi-million square foot facility to fabricate memory chips. That lasted several years and then they tried to sell the specially designed building to other chip builders. It was a no-go and now the City/County has moved almost all of its support services into a building they probably purchased for ….$1. Now the local DMV, Tax Accessor, health department, et cetera are occupiers. Why haven’t we learned that outsourcing to foreign countries is absurd. In all probability we’ve given China all the tools for our destruction!
Actually part of the supply problem is that the automotive chips are old technology. The chip companies want the auto industry to switch to the new high-tech ones they build for phones, computers, TV, etc. But automotive manu’s have tested them and they don’t stand up to rain, cold, dirt, dust, heat, potholes, etc. That is why automotive manu’s still use older designed chips, because they are more dependable. But the chip makers don’t want to switch production to these older style chips as it costs money to do so, and they don’t make as much profit on the older style chips. So it’s just not a supply issue, it’s a stand-off between the chip makers and the automotive industry.
If it’s not able to be retro fitted that’s a deal breaker. Why would you pay $50k on a truck and not get something that comes on cheap vehicles…
Wow watch sales plummet in every region except the south and west coast. No heated seats else where wow what a crazy decision. I had one vehicle with leather seating in Illinois with no heated seats option and believe me no way ever again in the winter months. Crazy decision GM
Heated seats come in handy inland in California. The General has a problem.
The article I read indicated High Country’s, Avenir’s, most Denali’s and high-end Cadillacs will have heated seats and steering. You just have to shell out a few extra bucks!
New trucks don’t need a steering wheel anymore.
It’s interesting that only Chevrolet and GMC models are listed here as losing the Heated / Cooled options. Why no Cadillacs or Buicks?
They are considered luxury. Can’t remove from a luxury vehicle.
I refuse to buy any vehicle that has a markup. As for heated seats the same goes no heat no sale.
I was amazed at the comment in the story stating “unfortunately for customers” just had to laugh at that one. It’s not unfortunate for me, it’s unfortunate for GM maybe, I just won’t buy a GM vehicle if heated seats aren’t on the option list. Too bad GM decided to follow the new norm and outsource their chip production rather than investing in upgrades to the one they used to run themselves. They decided to follow everyone else off the cliff and outsource their production, now it is biting them right in the ass. Even now, after they state the chip shortage has cost them billions of dollars, they still are just patiently waiting for someone to send them some chips. At what point does the light come on in their head and they realize they could make their own chips again? If they had started gearing up their abandoned chip factory at the beginning of the shortage, they could be making their own chips by now and would be the only US automaker to be unaffected by the chip shortage. Ironically they are using their abandoned chip facility to store trucks that do not have enough chips to complete production. Seems that proverbial light bulb may need to be replaced.
I agree with the angry mob, this is a bad choice. They should have halted production on less valuable models like the camaro and buick and anything sedan related vs trimming.whats considered a basic feature. Someone paying 60k for a RST model isn’t gonna just be OK with not getting heated seats, especially when competitors offer it.
GM has handled this chip shortage really poorly, I don’t fathom how Mary hasn’t been retired by now.
So what about the thousands of Colorados completely built waiting on chips? The seat and steering wheel has the heating elements. So when they get the boards missing a few chips will it just have buttons that dont work? Kinda bummed I’m not getting what I ordered. Or started nov 22 on whats being built?
Gm can’t make a decent electric vehicle and their head isn’t there. They are so far behind in that regard. Who wants a stripped down $50000 vehicle. Hello 1990 again.
Heated seats and a heated steering wheel are a must for me. They are really nice in the winter here in Iowa. Even the vented seats are nice in summer.