Semiconductor crisis: BMW does without touchscreen

Are you one of those people who have been trying to get their hands on a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or an NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3090 for many months? Due to the globally rampant semiconductor crisis, you will probably have to wait a while longer. But the lack of semiconductors is not only a real test for gaming fans. Since even everyday companions in our lives are now dependent on small chips, the crisis is also affecting other sectors of the economy. The automotive industry, for example, has been particularly hard hit. After all, manufacturers are now installing half PCs in their vehicles. BMW, a world-renowned company, is now having to draw consequences in order to be able to deliver cars at all. For example, the manufacturer is foregoing the installation of a touchscreen in many of its models for the time being.

Delivery bottlenecks are to be compensated

Those who are currently waiting for a car they have ordered will probably have to have a bit of stamina. After all, the semiconductor crisis has hit the automotive industry like a bomb. BMW now wants to do away with a common feature, the touchscreen, in favor of making its vehicles more readily available. Certainly, the customers will not only be happy about this step. Although they will receive their vehicle earlier, it will not be as ordered. However, BMW wants to ensure that every buyer or lessee receives their car sooner or later in the ordered condition.

This is to be ensured by the possibility of subsequent rectification. In practice, this looks like this: Anyone who receives their car now without a touch-sensitive display will receive a price reduction from BMW. As soon as the semiconductor crisis is overcome, the touchscreen can be retrofitted without any problems. The costs incurred correspond to the amount of the price reduction. However, this step should not affect all cars of the traditional German company. BMW itself would like to do without the touch-sensitive display for the time being, especially in the following vehicles:

• BMW 3 series
• BMW 4 (except i4)
• BMW X5
• BMW X6
• BMW X7
• BMW Z4

Back to the past

The introduction of touchscreens was a real boon for many BMW drivers. After all, the method using iDrive controllers was anything but convenient and catchy. The small cog in the center console naturally offers far less operating convenience than a self-explanatory control via touchscreen does. Now, however, there is no alternative to reinstalling the old operating method. According to BMW, the waiting time to receive semiconductors is too long because it is unpredictable. More than regular contact with the supplier is not possible in this regard. Accordingly, the company feels forced to take the serious step.

Discount in the amount of 500 US dollars

As already said, affected customers will of course get a discount if the touchscreen is missing. The amount of the rebate is said to be roughly the same globally. BMW throws the number of 500 US dollars into the room. But you don’t just lose a screen that can be operated via gesture control. On top of that, you’ll have to cut back internally, especially if you’ve ordered some additional features. When booking the “Parking Assistant Package”, for example, there is no “Backup Assistant” that helps when pulling out of a parking space.

It is not yet known where BMW will deliver the first vehicles that do not have a touchscreen and associated features. However, it will probably not take too much longer. In view of the already very high prices in the product segment of the traditional German company, a $500 discount does not seem very high. Only time will tell whether BMW will have to go further. However, it is a step in the right direction. After all, it is unbearable that you currently have to put up with waiting times of at least 10 months for vehicles in demand from almost every manufacturer.

Chip shortage possible by 2023

Buyers who want to keep their vehicles for a few years anyway are unlikely to be too snubbed by the move. After all, they can fall back on the upgrade option sooner or later. The situation is different, however, for lessees who will only keep their vehicle for two or three years. This semiconductor crisis is unlikely to be overcome too quickly. In this respect, BMW could perhaps be playing the poker game a bit too high. We are curious to see whether many potential customers of the car manufacturer will migrate to the competition. While the automotive industry is rather cautious about the timing of the semiconductor crisis, the information from the gaming industry is anything but cheering. For example, Sony sources say that the chip shortage could last until 2023. We hope for the best!