General Motors dealers in metro Detroit face a new challenge to selling cars.
They must inform Michigan car buyers that there’ll be no heated seats or heated steering wheels on many 2022 GM models, just as temperatures drop into the 40s and winter is weeks away.
“It’s not ideal. You want to have as many options available to folks as possible,” said Paul Zimmermann, vice president and partner of Matick Chevrolet in Redford Township and Matick Toyota in Macomb. “I get why GM is doing it and I applaud them for finding do-arounds for the problem because 100% of zero is zero.”
The problem is getting enough new cars to market amid a global shortage of semiconductor chips. The chips are used in a variety of car parts. The shortage has plagued U.S. car production since February and forced many automakers to build cars minus certain features.
On Friday, GM said it would no longer offer driver and passenger heated seats and heated steering wheels as standard or optional content on certain 2022 model year cars and trims.
GM spokesman David Barnas said the measure is temporary until the chip supplies improve. He said GM tried to limit it and the automaker is looking at ways to add the heated seats and steering wheels to a car buyer’s vehicle later when the parts become available.
Here are the vehicles that will not offer heated or ventilated seats and will have a $200 to $500 discount off the MSRP as a result:
•Chevy Malibu sedan: LT and Premier
•Chevy Trailblazer SUV: LT, ACTIV and RS
•Chevy Blazer SUV: LT, RS and Premier
•Chevy Traverse SUV: 1LT, 3LT, RS, Premier, High Country (rear only)
•Chevy Colorado midsize pickup: LT, Z71, and ZR2
•Chevy Silverado light-duty pickup: LT, RST, LT Trailboss and LTZ
•Chevy Silverado heavy-duty pickup: LT and LTZ
•GMC Canyon midsize pickup: Elevation, AT4, Denali
•GMC Terrain SUV: SLE, SLT, AT4, Denali
•GMC Acadia SUV: SLE/SLT/AT4 and Denali (Rear Heat Only)
•GMC Sierra Limited light-duty pickup: SLE, Elevation, SLT, AT4
•GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickup: SLE, SLT,AT4
•Buick Encore GX SUV: Preferred, Select, Essence
