What Does Driving Look Like With Audi's 'Semiconductor Shortage Package'?
With manufacturers like VW predicting that the semiconductor chip shortage which has already cost the auto industry as much as $210bn in lost production will last until 2024, Audi has removed certain chip-reliant processes as part of a new ‘semiconductor shortage package’.
At a surface level, this can seem like a beneficial move for everyone, but some skepticism is inevitable when considering what a semiconductor shortage package could actually bring to an increasingly tech-reliant modern car market. In this article, we consider precisely that, and whether or not Audi’s move is ultimately a wise one.
More Affordable Driving
While non-tech-specific manufacturing processes including high-quality deburring with equipment like a vibratory tumbler and even the use of already established automated machinery is still as rife across Audi production as ever, the removal of crucial tech elements has still led to semiconductor shortage package pricing that’s around $1,350 lower. This is especially beneficial as shortages see typical model costs soaring across even second-hand markets. As such, any car owner looking for a new model that doesn’t also make them bankrupt could benefit from considering these packages right now, even if that does mean making some pretty crucial compromises that, according to Audi, can’t be rectified even once chip shortages come to an end.
Is There A Safety Risk?
While Audi itself has sort of sidelined the issue, countless consumers are understandably concerned that a stripped-back model which removes crucial safety tech including adaptive cruise control and lane assist also poses certain risks. In particular, questions have been asked over whether the money taken off these vehicles is truly reflective of the features lost which, to many, feel like non-negotiable elements of any modern vehicle. Of course, there was a time when these safety features weren’t in existence anyway, but the reality is that they’re now commonplace and, with manufacturers like Tesla managing to keep up with their assurance pretty easily at this point, Audi may well end up regretting such a drastic move.
What About The future?
While Audi is ultimately preparing for the future of manufacturing with the launch of its semiconductor shortage package, the future of these specific models is also relatively uncertain. Worse, aside from confirming that tech features can’t later be added, Audi hasn’t confirmed this either way. In particular, concern has been expressed regarding the resale values of a vehicle that, even right now, has arguably little to no market sway. As such, while it might be acting like a bandaid for new car owners looking to get something shiny on the roads right now, there’s a pretty strong argument that this package could leave a scar which is far harder for the auto industry and any potential owners to move past.
A semiconductor shortage package might seem like a shiny new option, but Audi’s strange handling, and the decision to remove safety tech that many modern owners wouldn’t go without, means that the value of this adaptation ultimately remains about as uncertain as the end of the chip shortage itself.
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