With the ongoing global microchip shortage affecting production across the auto industry, General Motors is coming to grips with the situation by reducing the availability of certain features across its lineup. GM Authority has covered the latest chip-related feature constraints for Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles, and now, we’re taking a closer look at the constraints in place for Buick.
Per recent announcements, the Enclave SUV is the latest Buick model to face feature constraints as a result of the global microchip shortage. That said, the Buick Encore GX and Buick Envision also continue to face feature constraints going forward.
The features currently under constraint for new Buick model production include the Heated Steering Wheel, Heated Front Seats, Ventilated Front Seats, Heated Outboard Rear Seats, the Power-Folding Third-Row Seat, Rear Park Assist, and Front and Rear Park Assist.
Check out the full table below for a complete break down of the Buick models and features currently under constraint as a result of the microchip shortage:
| Affected Trim Levels | Affected Units | Heated Steering Wheel | Heated Front Seats | Ventilated Front Seats | Heated Outboard Rear Seats | Power-Folding 3rd Row Seat | Rear Park Assist | Front And Rear Park Assist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enclave | Essence, Premium | Some units | X1 | X2 | |||||
| Enclave | Essence, Premium, Avenir | Some units | X3 | ||||||
| Enclave | Premium | Some units | X2 | X4 | |||||
| Enclave | Premium, Avenir | Some units | X5 | ||||||
| Encore GX | Preferred, Select, Essence | Some units | X6 | X7 | |||||
| Encore GX | Essence | Some units | X8 | ||||||
| Envision | Preferred, Essence | Some units | X9 | ||||||
| Envision | Preferred, Essence, Avenir | Some units | X8 | X6 | |||||
| Envision | Essence, Avenir | Some units | X9 | ||||||
| Envision | Avenir | Some units | X6 | X6 |
- Feature made unavailable as of December 6, 2021 production
- Feature made unavailable as of March 14, 2022 production
- Feature made unavailable as of December 20, 2021 production
- Feature made unavailable as of January 31, 2022 production
- Feature made unavailable between November 15, 2021 and February 20, 2022 production
- Feature made unavailable as of November 15, 2021 production
- Feature made unavailable as of January 10, 2022 production
- Feature made unavailable as of November 22, 2021 production
- Feature made unavailable as of January 24, 2022 production
Some of the factors influencing the global microchip shortage include the COVID-19 pandemic, which not only resulted in massive worldwide production shutdowns, but also lead to a dramatic increase in demand for electronic devices as more people stayed in and worked from home. Additionally, the China-U.S. trade war exacerbated the effects of the shortage. Most recently, however, a massive earthquake in Japan resulted in a temporary halt in production for Renesas, a GM microchip supplier.
To help mitigate the effects of the chip shortage, General Motors elected to prioritize production of its most profitable and popular vehicles, namely the GM full-size pickup and SUV lines. Looking ahead, GM hopes to mitigate future microchip shortages through the development of its own proprietary family of microcontrollers, which are also expected to reduce the complexity and costs associated with chip-focused automotive features. Finally, with regard to politics, the Biden Administration has promoted a new $52 billion bill to boost domestic microchip production.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Buick news, General Motors production news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Nice to know about these constraints. However,as an existing Buick Envision owner (2017) loaded with options, I am interested in how the 5G change and shortage of microchips will effect owners of cars with 3G technology. I’ve heard stories of loss of existing options on older models with 3G. What is GM actively doing to address the 5G change? I will not be happy at all if I lose options I paid for at purchase of my Envision. Cannot find any info on how GM is addressing the 5G changes.
If you can’t find anything at all about what they are doing about the 3G shutdown, then they probably aren’t doing anything.
Anything 3G only should be pretty old by now anyway. 4G rolled out pretty widely about 10 years ago.
Do you like your envision? I want to get the new one, but curious to hear the opinions from actual owners of old and new ones.
I liked mine 2021 avenir but It just got tbone and then slammed into head on collision… write off now it can take a beating that car. Just sucks now 2022/23 model missing features
I bought a 2021 buick envision and we really loved it, plenty of power good handling and really sporty looking inside and out. The gas mileage was fantastic especially on cross country trips however our only disappointment with it was on long trips the cabin started to close in on you as it is pretty small inside and there is practically no cargo space whatsoever unless you fold down the rear seats all the time. We drove it for just under a year and then traded it in for a 22 buick enclave. The only reason we got rid of the car is because we felt very cramped in it. If the size doesn’t bother you then by all means get this car it was really a nice car.
3G no longer exists nor is it supported as of January 2022. Only LTE, 4G and 5G.
I sure am glad we got our 2019 Buick Enclave Essence… This should be a lesson learned that technology is not always the correct answer to all of our problems… We have become so dependent on technology that what they said way back in 1950’s and 60’s was right it runs out lives. Back then up until I would say the 80’s the auto industry would not be affected this much if at all… It’s time to start building things in America again and more mechanical then digital if it’s possible. Anyway I hope the auto companies can get through this.
I wouldn’t exactly say mechanical, I’d say 1 or 2 chips per vehicle rather a “supercomputer” to run the power windows or other accessories.
My big takeaway from the article is GM is working to design custom chips. I will guess they’re working with Intel on this – Intel has said they want to work with companies to design/create custom chips, and a collaboration between GM and Intel works for both.
GM did base much of the design of AV using Qualcomm chips, so that will be a consideration going forward. But, with EV’s, cars are becoming computing devices with wheels. The sooner car manufacturers get into chip design the better.
There’s plenty of opportunity for GM and Intel to screw things up. We’ll see where they are in 3-5 years….
CLC I say better Intel then Apple which to me Apple is overpriced over hyped junk I owned an iPhone it was garbage it crashed more then a Ford leaked transmission fluid!
I get what you’re trying to say, but Apple doesn’t actually manufacture chips anyway. They design them, and then have them produced at a semiconductor fab such as TSMC.
The reason you might want to partner with Intel (or Samsung, IBM, Globalfoundries) is that they actually own fabs in the US.
Anyway, if GM wants their own chips they’ll likely have to partner with someone that knows how to design them and build them.
I ordered a Buick Enclave Essence on Mar 7, order number BMBHP7. Can you please give me an idea when it will be made, and delivered to my dealership Thank you
Seriously? This is a blog with no official connection to GM. You should ask your dealer for that info.
Nate I get it as long as it’s NOT LG CHEM… they messed up the Bolt battery packs. Yes GM should manufacturers their own chips and semiconductors… That is why in the 50’s and 60’s American car companies could bounce back because the parts where made here and didn’t take months to get from overseas.
I now see the shortage of chips as marketing for high sales prices!
It can’t be that chips have been in short supply for 2 years now!
All OEMs are probably interested in high sales prices and many dealers are also illegally demanding surcharges.
My reaction!
I only drive old cars and these are reliable!
THANKS!
Maybe my horror story will educate some people on Buick chip shortage. I ordered a 2022 Buick Enclave Essence 7/29/21 from dealership. It was 1st day 2022’s could be ordered. Was told would have in 8-12 weeks. Around middle of January 2022 I called dealership again asking where car is & if would be missing any options like I heard on radio. They checked & said maybe February & that my Buick was not going to be missing any options. Car came 2/7/22 & when going through car with salesperson on options found could not get parking assist to work & no control for heated steering wheel. He ran inside & got window sticker which showed both not installed but would be in future when available. (They lied in January). It is now 7/25/22 almost one year since car ordered & almost 6 months since delivery & after countless calls to both Buick & the Buick dealership, still have no clue as to when or if I’ll ever see those options. All Buick & the dealership keep doing is pointing blame at each other. So good luck to those waiting, hope your experience not as horrible as mine.