While it is known that Tesla is shipping vehicles without USB ports due to a global semiconductor shortage, imported car brands such as BMW, Benz, and Audi are also delivering vehicles without some parts and functions in Korea.
According to the imported car industry, BMW Korea is planning to reduce the price by removing the head-up display from the 6 Series GT model delivered to domestic customers from this month.
This is because all 6 Series GT models are imported to Korea except for the head-up display function due to the shortage of semiconductors.
From the middle of this year, Mercedes-Benz Korea has been shipping with the exception of LTE communication modules for some models only.
If the communication module is missing, the SOS function, Mercedes Mi application, etc. cannot be used.
Mercedes-Benz is one of the imported car makers most affected by the shortage of semiconductors for vehicles.
Benz's domestic sales decreased to 3,623 units last month as shipments decreased due to a supply and demand shortage of semiconductors, giving up the first place in domestic imported cars to BMW (4824 units) in 13 months.
Mercedes-Benz said, "After obtaining the consent of the customer, the vehicle was delivered, and as soon as the parts are available, the update is possible."
Porsche Korea is shipping without the option to automatically adjust the steering wheel height.
Porsche also plans to install the option free of charge when the supply and demand shortage of semiconductors is resolved.
Audi has also been delivering vehicles to domestic customers for two to three months, excluding ancillary functions such as the function of electrically operating the steering wheel position, wireless charging function, and the function of heating glass for defrosting in some car models from two to three months ago.
Among domestic automakers, Hyundai and Kia are releasing their vehicles in a way that cuts prices and shortens waiting periods instead of excluding some specifications.
Since last May, Hyundai has informed that the shipment of the IONIQ 5 can be accelerated if the 'Parking Assist' and 'Prestige Choice' options including remote smart parking assistance, four-wheel drive (4WD) options, and digital side mirrors are not selected. .
Kia will cut the original price by 400,000 won when excluding the rear parking collision avoidance assistance and remote smart parking assistance functions, which are basically applied to the Noblesse and higher trims of the K8, and Carnival will also reduce the 'smart power tailgate' function when the 'smart power tailgate' function is excluded. It will give you a discount of 40,000 won.
GM Korea is still shipping vehicles without excluding parts or functions, but it cannot rule out the possibility that the vehicle will have to be sold without some functions depending on the supply and demand situation of semiconductors.
In the case of General Motors (GM) headquarters in the United States, it is a situation in which the car will be released without the heated seat function in major models such as Chevrolet Colorado, Blazer, Equinox, and Silverado.
Renault Samsung Motors said that so far, it has not experienced a problem of delay in shipment due to a shortage of semiconductors, so it is not considering a plan to ship a vehicle without specific parts and functions.
(Photo = provided by BMW Korea, Yonhap News)