Bad Times Continue for the Chevrolet Equinox

General Motors’ CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario has been on idle since February 8 and it will remain that way through at least the week of June 28, an interruption of nearly five months.

This is where the Equinox compact SUV, an important product for Chevrolet, is manufactured.

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The reason once again is the global chip shortage, which doesn’t seem to have a quick end in sight. A GM spokesperson told Automotive News Canada that the company is working closely with its suppliers to mitigate the short-term impact and leverage every available semiconductor to build and ship its most popular models, including full-size trucks and SUVs.

The Chevrolet Equinox is GM’s third best-selling vehicle in Canada, trailing only the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. But while a majority of models increased their sales in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic started to hit the country, the Equinox tumbled 30.9 percent to 2,613 units.

So, yeah, times are pretty bad for this compact SUV, especially with key competitors getting major redesigns. Remember, the Equinox was due for a mid-cycle update for the 2021 model year, but the changes were pushed back to 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 situation.

We don’t know when the 2022 Equinox will launch exactly, or what will happen with customers who are waiting for a 2021 model. The Car Guide has reached out to GM Canada and hopefully we’ll get some answers soon.

According to a number of market analysts, the repercussions of the global chip shortage could last well into 2022.

Meanwhile, Toyota Canada last week decided to temporarily suspend its manufacturing operations in Ontario due to a COVID-19 outbreak at one of its major suppliers, affecting Toyota RAV4 and Lexus RX production.