Consumers have fallen in love with heated seats as they help to take the bite out of winter, while also offering soothing warmth whenever their back acts up.
They’re a hugely popular option, but they’re being eliminated in a number of GM vehicles due to the continuing chip crisis.
According to Automotive News, heated and ventilated seats will no longer be offered on more than a dozen vehicles starting on November 15th. While that’s bad news, it’s even worse when you consider the move impacts popular trucks and crossovers such as the Chevrolet Blazer, Colorado and Equinox as well as the GMC Canyon and Terrain.
The Chevrolet Silverado and Traverse are also affected as are the GMC Acadia and Sierra. However, range-topping High Country and Denali trims will get a reprieve thanks to their premium positioning.
Also Read: Chip Shortage 101 – Why Car Makers Can’t Keep Up With Demand
The bad news doesn’t stop there as the publication says heated steering wheels will also be cut from many of the same models on November 22nd. However, this change has far-reaching implications as it also impacts full-size SUVs such as the Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon.
GM knows the decision will upset a number of customers and a spokesperson told Automotive News, “Every effort was made to protect as much as possible” so “that’s why only certain trims are impacted.” Buyers of affected models will reportedly receive credits of between $150 – $500, and the automaker told the publication they’re exploring the possibility of retrofitting vehicles when parts become available. However, that likely won’t happen anytime soon as the absence of heated seats and steering wheels is expected to continue through the 2022 model year.
Of course, GM isn’t navigating the chip crisis alone as a number of automakers have had to make significant changes. One of the most drastic was BMW’s decision to build models without touchscreen infotainment systems.
