Wait times for new cars

nanna8

It certainly isn’t Brexit here!

Many factors, but all linked.

GrannyGravy13 I am very sure scientists are looking for alternatives, but it doesn't mean that they can just turn over a leaf and find them. It could take decades of research to find synthetic alternatives, but synthetics contain real materials, also with earth bound origins, so it might be a question of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

M0nica

*Grannygravy*. No, it has nothing to do with the disgraceful maltreatment of children in the mining industry in Congo. If there is a shortage of minerals, it would be the same if they had a workforce, all over 21 working in safe conditions and well paid.

The appalling conditions in these areas is a human rights issues and should be highlighted and pursued, but it doesn't affect the availability of the rare earths.

I just wanted to highlight the conditions that children live/work in for the rest of the world to have computers, cars, electric cars etc.

Rare Earth minerals are being used more and more, maybe it’s time that scientists started to look into synthetic alternatives, if they are not already.

It certainly isn’t Brexit here!

Grannygravy. No, it has nothing to do with the disgraceful maltreatment of children in the mining industry in Congo. If there is a shortage of minerals, it would be the same if they had a workforce, all over 21 working in safe conditions and well paid.

The appalling conditions in these areas is a human rights issues and should be highlighted and pursued, but it doesn't affect the availability of the rare earths.

We are enjoying the Juke. It's much easier on my back and hammy leg as it's automatic and as I said economical. A very smooth ride.

DD2 got her new Automatic Mini Clubman last Friday - 11 months after it was ordered.

Hithere - I think you’ve ‘run your car into the ground’ which is a local expression that the cost of any repairs outweighs its benefit. It’s bite the bullet and scrap it or trade it in, if it will limp into a garage with a bit of MOT left to run.

So nobody blaming the slave masters in
Congo who regularly whip, mistreat and generally abuse children as young as 5-6 yrs old who dig/mine for the minerals needed for the components in chips/electric vehicles then?

No didn’t think so …

most car salespeople are blaming it on brexit as well as covid
we were spun a line that brexit would mean manufacturing in this country though- creating jobs, not waiting for China to get their arses in gear?

It's a combination of many factors.

The shortage certainly isn't Brexit, but part of it is COVID. When COVID struck and car sales fell, some of the chip manufacturers decided to close down some plants completely and when sales rose after quite a short period, they did not have the capacity to eet demand.

Building new capapcity where ever you build it is not the work of a minute. Sites must be chosen, planning agreements reached, building time may well be a year or several, then there is all the high tech plant, there may well be lags in supply and staff have to be trained off.It may well take 5 years to get new plant from concept to production.

Other countries are experiencing similar problems, but not quite as badly. And can afford to pay higher prices, and don't face the same issues with transport and imports.

you can source the minerals but it's more expensive

Fleurpepper

Exporters will not lower prices to help with taking sterling.

So why are other countries experiencing the same problems?

Exporters will not lower prices to help with taking sterling.

Of course there is a worldwide shortage- but it is easier for some countries to pay a higher price for them and take priority on imports. Same for many other goods, medicines, energy, etc.

JaneJudge

we can make chips in this country though, it would just be more expensive

Only if we could source the minerals which are in short supply.

we can make chips in this country though, it would just be more expensive

Another one for you FleurPepper

www.cnbc.com/2022/11/07/from-teslas-to-bmws-cars-are-piling-up-on-land-and-sea-at-german-port.html

FleurPepper
As much as you would like to blame this problem on Brexit ( as you have for some years) your wrong on this one.

www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/how-china-became-ground-zero-auto-chip-shortage-2022-07-18/

It is possible to buy a showroom model if you are not fussy.

I tend to want what I want when spending ££££ and I am content to wait till the situation eases.

Fleurpepper

It is all linked. And of course importing is so much harder now, and the cost of containers has gone berserk. The massive fall in Sterling values is also a factor. Much better for exporting countries to export where it is easier to do so, and with good exchanges rates. It makes importing massively more expensive.

There is a Global shortage of semi-conductors, there are waiting lists for new cars worldwide.

There is a physical shortage of the raw materials. The chips are not available to import.

It is all linked. And of course importing is so much harder now, and the cost of containers has gone berserk. The massive fall in Sterling values is also a factor. Much better for exporting countries to export where it is easier to do so, and with good exchanges rates. It makes importing massively more expensive.