, Columnist
There’s a Good Side to the Chip Shortage
Automakers are being squeezed to focus on better, higher-margin models. It’s paying off in stronger sales and lower inventories.
BMW AG display at Auto Shanghai 2021.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The chip shortage is persisting and spreading. But there may be a good side to it after all.
Despite all the moaning and groaning around the lack of semiconductors, automakers globally have posted pretty stellar results even as they’ve had to idle facilities and halt some production.