The New Brunswick Automobile Dealers Association believes it will likely be a few more months before car lots fill up with new vehicles again.
Association past president Ian Hatheway says manufacturers are telling him to expect a boost in inventory by spring.
“By everything we’ve been told, I think they will have us back up to – maybe not normal inventory levels – but decent inventory levels into the second quarter of next year.”
More recently, Hatheway says he’s noticed a change.
“The product seems to be flowing a lot faster. Our retail orders on franchises that I have are starting to roll through quicker than they were three months ago for sure.”
The shortage of new cars has been an ongoing issue for dealerships for most of 2021.
The pandemic and subsequent manufacturing shutdowns led to a global shortage of semiconductor chips for vehicles.
