If UAW workers go on strike, the instant gratification we Americans experience at the dealer could be dealt a major blow.
Ambrose Conroy is the CEO and Founder of seraphA consulting group specializing in the supply chain and auto industry.
Conroy said, “We expect to see less choice for consumers. So if you want to buy a car from the Big Three, the sooner you buy it, the better, knowing that there aren’t going to be huge savings. “
He says if auto workers strike, the first thing consumers will notice from domestic automakers is a reduction in incentives from dealerships to buy cars. After that, prices will continue to rise above MSRP.
while numbers From the Cox Automotive Show The Big Three automakers have several weeks of inventory, so if the strike lasts a few weeks, supplies will be really hit and even drive up used car prices, which had soared during the pandemic.
And while foreign automakers won’t be affected by a UAW strike, they may also raise their prices.
“I think we may see price volatility with foreign cars. I think we’ll see less incentive with those as well if there’s a strike because you don’t need to discount to get people to buy cars.” You have,” Conroy said.
You may not be buying a car but need a repair part – you may have to wait.
“You will have shortages of some parts. And since the Big 3’s depots are also staffed by union workers, we can’t necessarily see the availability of the parts we need for your cars,” Conroy said. Tom McParland’s automatch There is some advice for consumers.
“From a consumer standpoint, it really depends on what you’re aiming for,” McParland said.
First: Act quickly. If you need that home truck, buy it sooner, not later – and by early I mean within the next few days.
If you can’t do this, the more flexible you are in purchasing models, the better purchasing options you will have.
“I think flexibility is important,” McParland said.
Conroy believes that when the strike ends, prices will not necessarily return to where they are now. They warned that the strike is likely to have a lasting impact on both prices and supply in the coming months and years.
“We’ll see consumers continue to deal with higher prices, fewer available vehicles after the strike, because some simplification is needed. So you may not get all the choice of options you want, or you may simply not get May have to wait,” he said.
The bottom line: Act quickly or be patient.