The lack of semiconductor chips continues to plague the production of new vehicles – and the fleets looking to acquire them. Inventories will likely remain very sparse until early 2022 at least. What can fleets do to manage in the meantime?

Look ahead and get your orders in now. If you plan to add(https://addisonfleet.com/what-we-do/#acquisition ) or replace vehicles(https://addisonfleet.com/what-we-do/#remarketing) in the near future, submit those orders as soon as possible. You should still expect a long wait; manufacturers have a large backlog. But the sooner you get your order in the queue, the sooner you may be able to take delivery.

Consider alternative vehicles and features. You may need to expand your list of acceptable vehicles. Compare your preferred vehicles to similar models from other OEMs that may be more readily available, and consider if those alternatives can meet your needs. Also, think about which features are essential and which can be handled in other ways – for example, if you can’t get that rubber vinyl floor, a set of good weather mats can work just as well.

If we do locate your vehicles, be prepared to act quickly. We’re using all our industry contacts to fill as many client orders as we can – and so is every fleet manager in Canada. So if we locate your preferred vehicles, you will have a very short window in which to close the deal. Be ready!

Fill the gaps with short-term leases or rentals. We can always provide short-term solutions (https://addisonfleet.com/choice/ ) to your immediate needs. We’ll make sure your vehicles are in good working order and well-suited to your purpose. They may have a ding or two, but they’ll get the job done until new vehicles become readily available again.

This is an unprecedented situation, but it won’t last forever. With some patience and flexibility, we’ll get through it together.