A worldwide shortage of microchips has forced car manufacturers to get creative. GM, for instance, is stripping less popular features from some of its best-selling models. Its latest move, reports say, is to remove the HD Radio option from its 2021 Chevy Silverado and 2021 GMC Sierra full-size trucks.
The average new car contains dozens of microchips. They control everything from cabin temperature to valve timing. Manufacturers, unable to buy enough chips to keep up with demand, have slowed or paused production of some vehicles.
Large Trucks are GM’s Most Popular Product
Automakers would rather not slow production of their most popular models, though. So some have begun reconfiguring them, allowing the companies to build vehicles with fewer microchips.
General Motors’ best-selling vehicles are large pickups. The Chevy Silverado was America’s second best-selling vehicle last year. Its GMC Sierra cousin came in ninth on that list. The two are largely identical, so you can make a convincing argument that, together, they comprise America’s best-selling vehicle.
Removing Unpopular Features to Keep Factories Humming
Rather than build fewer of them, the company has repeatedly stripped less-popular features from the models. First, they removed a cylinder deactivation feature that improved fuel economy in highway driving. Later, the company removed a start/stop feature – another fuel saver, but one many buyers deactivate anyway. Each change enables GM to build big trucks with fewer microchips.
Now, HD Radio has seen the ax. A GM spokesperson tells us:
“Due to the global, industry-wide shortage of semiconductors, GM is removing the HD Radio feature from certain 2021 model year Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 units. All 2022 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500/3500 HD models will also not have HD Radio. The change takes effect “starting with vehicles scheduled for production on or after July 12, 2021.”
HD Radio broadcasts a digital signal over AM and FM channels. Unlike satellite radio, a subscription is not needed; the broadcasts are free as long as you have a system with HD Radio technology built in.
Fewer Drivers Listening, Anyway
The change, we’re told, is “currently expected to be permanent.” It also makes sense. A study from market research firm Strategy Analytics found that radio listenership dropped sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not recovered.
Survey author Derek Viita told RadioWorld that “the pandemic has only worked to increase adoption of other media sources. Some radio providers in the West are reporting that their ratings have nose-dived because many of those who listened on their commute have not rejoined from home,” Viita said.
With many drivers switching to streamed in-car entertainment, cutting HD Radio likely means cutting a feature few buyers use.
