[danallxt]

Perhaps some good news?
A June 4 th article (Bloomberg-US edition) says that MB and BMW are back to full production without the chip shortage problem.

Mercedes Benz AG, Daimler Truck Holding AG, and BMW AG are among carmakers now getting enough of the high-tech components to produce at full capacity after experiencing crippling outages for months.

From BMW

BMW expressed similar reserved optimism, saying all plants are up and running and the company isn’t experiencing any stoppages due to chip supplies.

“Currently, the situation is a little bit more stable,” a spokesman said, adding that BMW still monitors the chip supply on a daily basis and doesn’t rule out the possibility of fresh disruptions in the coming weeks and months.

This is not industry wide as many Asian (and others) manufacturers are still having chip shortage problems.

There is some speculation that MB and BMW have transitioned to the more expensive (and more available) semiconductor chips.

Mercedes CEO Ola Kallenius said last year his company would resort to using a more expensive semiconductor to avoid the shortage.

Part of the problem was many of the automakers were using old legacy semiconductor chips that have been surpassed by newer chips needed for more modern tech and the older chips were less costly/and had less profit margins and thus lessor production overall than the new chips. Chip manufacturers transitioned to the current tech needs but automakers did not, and got caught.

[TJZ67201]

Thanks, this is an interesting read! Good to know for sure. I was not aware of the outdated semiconductors being used in the auto industry.

Now if only we can see more and more 2-ers getting produced! I want my damn car already!

[Quadruple VANOS]

And here I was thinking a chip shortage was the reason I'd need to buy an X3M to get Active Cruise Control in an X3. No Active Cruise option in a 230i or 330i either.

[danallxt]

Originally Posted by Quadruple VANOS

And here I was thinking a chip shortage was the reason I'd need to buy an X3M to get Active Cruise Control in an X3. No Active Cruise option in a 230i or 330i either.

That still may be the case, if you look at BMW's comment closely, it is possible (likely?) that they have modified their product line to be more in sync with the expected (limited?) chip supply so that production does not need to stop due to chip supplies. He is not really saying they have (or anticipate having) a robust chip supply. Basically saying they don't think production will need to be halted, perhaps helped by modifying product line relative to chip supply. Again just guessimation on my part.