Huge shortage of automotive chips due to problems in the semiconductor sector. Both a lack of silicon wafers and oversubscribed fabs. It has caused problems throughout many industries, and companies such as Toyota have been forced to shut down production in many of its factories overseas due to inability to obtain parts. It is possible this is finally starting to show up on the retail lots. Just speculation of course, but the closure of factories due to lack of chips is real.

Hello fren! NOT NORMAL! There is a parts shortage. My flipping car just appreciated! That never happens!

not sure about the cars,

but I know whenever I search for various products, tile, building materials, shoes, etc. they're out of stock,

or they have some weird in between product, with different quality than before.

like socks are thinner, and one size, where there used to be two. I think factories are shutting down...strange indeed.

A Starbucks and McDonald's 3 miles from my house just closed down and got demolished near a major highway. Very odd. I think economy in crapper

Semiconductor shortage, and the GM plant shutdowns. I went car shopping 3 weeks ago and we have plenty of the new sedans in the market, with almost 0 trucks and SUVs being made. Couple this on top of everyone trading in their cars, creates a perfect storm of shortages.

In my morning commute I Travel over the Richmond bridge in the SF Bay Area, right there is multiple railway staging areas for new vehicles. They are full. On another note, the Oakland/Alameda dockyards are full of containers and at least (6)+ full container ships have been sitting at anchor for a couple of weeks... I don’t know if it’s idle or a back up, I don’t cross the Bay Bridge very often to see if they’re exchanged.

I don't get out much, but to add a layer onto your mystery, the local newspaper offices nearby are vacant (working from home) and now its parking lot is packed with brand new trucks. It's not a dealership, and there's no signage to indicate a change in ownership. It's just brand new trucks as far as the eye can see.

I'm not in Texas, but it is strange activity, and I assume the lot is being used for overstock or something. I think the trucks are American, but I don't know the brand. Maybe Ford?

Maybe it's all the idiots out racing at 3 in the morning breaking all the new cars.

Tons of delays for all imported products. Lines of ships. Other countries still in lockdown are less productive, and even if it's just one part, it all gets held up.