The frustration of finding a new Chevrolet in the model and trim you want is hard for many of you. And then, finding suitable options and colors gets even more challenging. Finally, finding a dealer that will offer a reasonable price even if you find the vehicle you want is difficult and potentially strike three. Rather than wait and keep trying month after month, perhaps it is time to consider ordering the vehicle you want. Let's walk through some Chevrolet models, and we will give you some considerations on ordering them and tell you where they are made.
First, the MSRP of the vehicle is subject to change if you want to reserve one that is on order but not ordered specifically in your name. If Chevrolet increases the MSRP before the vehicle is built and invoiced to us, it gets the new MSRP even if it was ordered before the price change. On the other hand, if we order the vehicle in your name (this is also called a sold order), the MSRP is locked from the date of the order.
Secondly, when we place an order with your exact build, the time it takes to get built is compressed as Chevrolet will place a higher priority on sold orders.
Another advantage of sold orders is the ability to get your rebates in the current month protected for when the vehicle lands. So rebates like Conquest, Costco, customer cash, etc. can be locked in. And the great part of it is that if the rebates are better when the vehicle gets here, you can use those rebates instead! This rebate protection program runs through 1/31/22, and it has been going for a while, but the program is month to month at the discretion of Chevrolet. We, unfortunately, cannot lock in finance terms or incentives.
Chevrolet encourages dealers to sell more vehicles by rewarding them with more allocation to build new units. Basically, if you sell more, you earn more. That is why we continue to be aggressive on price and offer our customers a transparent sales process. We know that this shortage isn't forever, and our aggressive pricing strategy is a long-term strategy to earn more new vehicles.
CAMARO
We have lots of Camaros on the way, but all of them are sold. The good news is that we should see strong replenishments within the next month (February or March). As one of the nation's top sellers of ZL1 Camaros, we will have a larger allocation than most. That means getting your order in with us will lead to you getting your Camaro before someone who reserves theirs from another dealership. A great alternative option is the 1LZ, otherwise known as the LT1 trim. That is an 8-cylinder Camaro without many bells and whistles but has an excellent price. Sold order pricing through 2/28/22 is $250 off MSRP before applying rebates. This vehicle is made in Michigan, so it shouldn't take long to get to us once built.
EQUINOX
If you want a neat-looking Equinox, the new RS trim is sharp. We have several of these coming. But, if you want an LS, LT, or Premier, those can be ordered. Unfortunately, Chevrolet has reduced manufacturing of those trims, and nationwide supply is abysmal. Sold order pricing through 2/28/22 is $2,000 off MSRP before applying rebates. These are made both in Canada and Mexico, and they are pretty quick to get to us once built. Over the past year or two, the biggest issue has been Chevrolet diverting microchips to more profitable models and limiting the production of the Equinox. This year, we hope that Chevrolet solves that problem, and Equinox should see greater availability.
BLAZER
Blazer has been another victim of chip supply issues. These are built in Mexico and get to us quickly once built. Like the Equinox, we offer $2,000 off MSRP for sold order pricing before applying any rebates.
SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, AND TAHOE
Silverado HD, especially crew cabs, is an area where we can order exceptional numbers. We are massive volume sellers of HDs. Likewise, we sell high volumes of the Silverado 1500 crew cabs. And we are far and away the top-selling Tahoe dealer in Alabama and rank in the top 1% of all Chevrolet dealers nationwide. The Tahoe and Suburban are made in Arlington, TX, and they have a short turnaround from manufacture date to delivery. The Silverado HDs are made in Oshawa, Canada, and Flint, MI, while the Silverado LDs are made in Mexico, Fort Wayne, IN, and soon in Oshawa, Canada. So they don't take too long to get to us at regular times.
COLORADO
We anticipate some decent Colorado quantity to order over the next two months, so reach out to us on ordering these. The national supply of Colorados is limited, so ordering is a good option. Additionally, they are made near St Louis, MO, in Wentzville and have a very fast turnaround.
TRAVERSE
Traverse has been a victim of the chip crisis, as the quantity built has not kept up with demand. These are made in Lansing, MI, and like the Colorado arrive quickly once built. We do have the allocation for sold orders, so reach out to us to order one.
TRAILBLAZER AND TRAX
Like all of Chevrolet's lower profit vehicles, the Trailblazer and Trax have been victims of reduced production. As a result, we cannot place an order for a customer and only get what Chevrolet allows us. Unlike other vehicles, where we can specifically build what we want, the units are made in South Korea and only what Chevrolet has available parts for. They are shipped by boat to ports in the United States, and then we get them sent to us. You can reach out to us about what you are looking for, and we can monitor what is being built to see if it is a match.
SPARK
The Spark is also built in South Korea, but these have not been allocated to dealers in months. The Spark is not a higher priority for Chevrolet given its low profitability for GM. It will be discontinued after the 2022 model year. We expect to get some allocation before production is terminated, so if you are interested, let us know quickly.
MALIBU
If you have been shopping for a Malibu recently, you know how hard they are to find. The Kansas City plant that builds them has been mostly idle during the pandemic and has recently started ramping back up. Supply is coming back in light quantities, so if you want one, reach out to us.
BOLT EV/EUV
We have lots of these on order, but we are still waiting on production to get started with the battery recall consuming so much capacity on batteries. Still, let us know if you have a specific order, you would like, and we can be on the watch for the ability to order it.
