silicon chip shortage Page 25

The silicon chip shortage is what happens when everyone wants a console, a laptop, and a new car at once, and the fabs can’t conjure wafers any faster.

Limited manufacturing capacity, pandemic-era logistics, and a sprinkle of geopolitics throttled supply, so Australia copped longer delivery times and pricier used cars.

By late 2023 into 2024, supply improved, but certain ECUs and driver-assist chips still bottleneck popular models, leaving lead times anywhere from weeks to months.

If you’re shopping, be flexible on colour and options, check dealer stock or demos, and cross-shop trims—sometimes the up-spec arrives sooner than the bargain-basement special.