Karly Olsen put a down payment on a brand new Kia Forte on March 28 , but due to a chip shortage, she's still waiting. (Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Medicine Hat car buyers left waiting as chip shortage continues to impact supply

May 13, 2022 | 5:35 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- Take a look at pretty much any car lot here in the city, and finding that shiny new car with everything you are looking for can be hard to find.

Karly Olsen knows all about that. She’s in the process of buying a new car right now.

“It’s a huge waiting game right now I have put a down payment on a new car, unfortunately because of the chip shortage and with COVID-19, I have to wait a couple of months to receive the car,” she said.

She put down a down payment for a 2022 Kia Forte at the end of March and has been waiting ever since.

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” It sounds like it should be here in the next little while, it should be here. I was told at some dealerships it is an eight month wait,” she said.

Local car dealerships like Medicine Hat Nissan say the wait time for a new car generally depends on the type of vehicle. Micheal Eisenlohr is the assistant sales manager.

” When you go up to a higher trim level on a vehicle, there is more technology involved with it, which in turn means that the micro chips that are used for that type of vehicle comparative to maybe one at a lower trim level will differ as well. So more features, more electronics, more types of things, the more we are waiting for parts, and logistics and that type of stuff,” Eisenlohr said.

While wait times for new cars has gone down at their Nissan dealership, pre-ordering is still popular to ensure customers get exactly what they want.

For those looking to buy right now, Eisenlohr recommends doing your research, and to take a test drive if a vehicle is available even if that particular show model doesn’t have all the features you want.

As for Olsen, she is excited for the day she can stop waiting and turn the key of her brand new car.