Zac Quinn 
While the Semiconductor shortage isn’t as dire as it was, there have still been some setbacks this year because of it. For example, during the weeks of April 4 and April 11, General Motors has had to halt production of its breadwinning Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks at the Fort Wayne Assembly plant in Indiana. This was the first time that the automaker shut down its plant due to the shortage. However, the two-week break is coming to an end, and production will be ramping back up at the beginning of next week.
GM Fort Wayne Assembly Plant: Chevrolet Silverado And GMC Sierra 1500 Production Going Back Online
According to The Detroit News, GM spokesman David Barnas said in a statement that they would “resume full production on Tuesday, April 19.” It’s helpful to note that GM’s other light-duty truck plant in Silao, Mexico, is still operating. Additionally, production of heavy-duty trucks in Flint and Oshawa, Ontario, also continued. So the best way to look at the two-week delay is to see it as a grace period as the automaker is launching the new 2022-model-year Silverado and Sierra. The trucks are refreshed both inside and out, with more premium interiors, and new trim levels such as the Silverado ZR2, and Sierra Denali Ultimate.
Last year GM and other automakers lost billions worth of revenue as production was halted at various plants due to the chip shortage. We’ve seen a few Assembly plants get put on hold for the same reason, but it certainly doesn’t seem as drastic as last year. GM spokesman Dan Flores has noted that there has been better consistency in semiconductor supply through the first quarter of this year compared to the previous year in its entirety.
While there’s plenty of uncertainty regarding the semiconductor supply base, we’ve seen some improvements, which could continue. Some progress is better than no progress. The workers at the Fort Wayne Assembly Plant have gotten to have two weeks off to relax and reset before the start of production once again, and things will likely be back into full swing starting next Tuesday.
