Amid High Gas Prices, Car Dealers Have Lots of SUVs to Sell

Sellers have a thin offer of hybrids and gasoline-economical little cars and trucks to offer. You are going to have a a lot a lot easier time locating a total-dimension truck or 3-row SUV in vendor stock.

Dealers evaluate their provide of automobiles to promote in a metric named “days of inventory” – how extended it would just take them to promote out of cars at the existing price if they didn’t get any new inventory.

They are historically minimal on everything correct now. At the finish of May possibly, dealers had an average of 34 days’ value of vehicles to promote – 25% fewer than a calendar year back.

But the figures are even worse for far more gasoline-effective automobiles. Dealers finished the month with an typical of just 19 days’ really worth of compact vehicles out there. They experienced 20 days’ well worth of hybrid automobiles and just 22 days’ worthy of of midsize autos.

At the other close of the mpg scale, the tale is considerably improved. Sellers finished May possibly with 45 days’ value of comprehensive-size SUVs in stock. They experienced a 49-working day provide of total-dimension pickups. They held virtually 60 days’ truly worth of high-end luxurious cars like the BMW 7 Sequence and Mercedes-Benz S-Course – heavyweight cars with highly effective engines that often put up truck-like gas-economy figures.

Blame the Microchips Once again

The dilemma is partly demand from customers – higher fuel prices have Us citizens browsing for far more gasoline-productive vehicles.

But it’s also the ongoing world microchip lack.

SUVs and pickup trucks are bigger-margin vehicles. They make much more funds for automakers than little sedans.

Limited on microchips, automakers have identified on their own not able to develop as numerous motor vehicles as the industry calls for. To stay afloat, they are making use of the chips they can acquire to make their most rewarding products. That leaves fewer compact, gas-productive vehicles rolling out manufacturing unit doors.