Some GM truck owners will pay more at the pump because of the lack of a computer chip

GM said on Monday that it will build some versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra without a fuel management module that improves mileage by about 1 mile per gallon.

Unfortunately for buyers, even after the chips are available, GM will not be able to refurbish the engines with the missing fuel management module. Therefore, the reduction in mileage, from 17 to about 16 miles per gallon, will be permanent.

Buyers will receive a small consolation prize, with a credit of $ 50 on the vehicle’s list price. The mileage sticker on the window will also be changed to reflect lower mileage, according to GM spokeswoman Michelle Malcho.

The affected versions of the trucks are those with a 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 engine and 6 or 8-speed automatic transmission.

The entire auto industry has been affected by the scarcity of computer chips, with temporary plant shutdowns becoming commonplace.

Automakers cut back on orders for computer chips at the beginning of last year, when the pandemic slowed car sales and production – but then, car sales rebounded earlier than expected. Meanwhile, the consumer technology industry has been busy snapping up the chip oversupply thanks to increased demand for devices in the age of work at home.

All of this has left automakers battling chip shortages, and it will have a significant effect: GM said it expects 2021 profit to be cut by $ 1.5 billion to $ 2 billion because of chip shortages. The company Has It temporarily closed three factories – the Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kansas, CAMI in Ingersoll, Ontario and San Luis Potosi in Mexico – in early February and they remain closed.

GM also built some vehicles without losing computer chips, planning to add them as soon as they become available after the rest of production is completed.

But it has tried to keep producing its large pickup trucks, with relatively popular sales, such as Silverado and Sierra, as well as large SUVs. These versions of the pickup trucks are considered a “light” version of the trucks, with a smaller engine than the “heavy” models.