Several of the new car dealers in this area have considerably lower than normal inventories of new cars. I drove past the Chrysler dealer this week-end and their sales lot was only about 1/2 full. The Chevy dealer's inventory of new vehicles was also much lower than average. Anyone know what is going on? Are new vehicles being built? How well are new vehicles selling?

Several issues but a lot is driven by the semiconductor shortage, several plants are idle as a result for all makes.

Yep, they shut the Jeep Cherokee plant down in Belvidere, IL for a week due to semiconductor shortage. Seems the Chinese and Japanese are more interested in selling billions of chips to the computer, cell phone, and electronics market instead of the lower volume of cars... The consequences of limited capacity here in the U.S.

Im trying to buy 5500 ram
Not many ones in stock
Order options are 2 months IF lucky

ALL ReBATES are gone ! Even on a 20 !

Im stuck . Either get a limited for 85k or a
stripped white tradesmen for 60
No in between.

I don't know what you are looking for or how far you want to go to get it but a dealer here, who sells a lot of trucks, has eight.

From what I hear the dealership enjoys a good reputation. My limited dealings with them have been good.

https://www.chrisnikel.com/new-vehicles/chassis-5500/

Another issue affecting production - the shut downs in Texas during the cold snap. . . . no foam for seats, because no petrochemicals flowing . . .

I just ordered a 21 Ram Classic Tradesman 4x4 two weeks ago they are saying 8-12 weeks delivery but probably sooner. Dealer had one in stock which Is rare as most dealers don't stock Classic short bed / regular cab 4x4s mostly high dollar Big Horns , Laramies , quad cabs, crew cabs etc. I would have taken its except the rear gears were wrong. Turns out it was ordered then the customer canceled the order upon delivery.

the one thing that has been mentioned is the CV thing. It has had a drastic effect on most everything due to plants being shut down, a lot of materials coming from CV's home country etc. It's a trickle down effect that we haven't seen the last of. I buy a lot of parts for customers cars and have had to literally spend hours tracking down items that are normally available in quantity. they have the right, but not the left or vice a versa. Some are 3- 6 month lead times. These are common items like floor pan patch panels for a GM A body (68-72 Chevelle and others). Normally available from different manufacturers and resellers.
Appliances, new vehicles, and a whole bunch of other items one isn't aware of until they try to buy it. HUH?? whad'ya mean you don't have 27" wall oven in stock (at a large reseller)? Ok I'll take the floor model, Whadd'ya mean I can't have it ? Ok I take a 30". Scenario repeats.
I can't wait 6 weeks, what am I supposed to use for an oven? Salespersons response

Went by my dealer today, ZERO trucks in the lot! They have taken to parking Wranglers in the spots where the trucks usually are...

I've been reading at other forums that after the hold up from the lack of chips that they are or were concentrating on filling customer orders before the general new cars that sit on lots.

Buddy is in fleet sales at a large GM/Mopar/Ford group here. He's been bitching about inventory for months! 1st covid shut downs now chip supplies.He has plenty of buyers but nothing to sell to them. We're talking fleets that buy 100+ trucks at a time....nothing to be had.

I ordered a Ram 2 weeks ago, (with help from a member here who got me a friends code ) and was told 10-12 weeks for delivery. I felt the salesman was being optimistic and I might be lucky if I have it before July.
Got an email today with the VIN and saying expected delivery first week of May.
I was checking inventory at numerous dealers regularly for several months before I ordered, and found very little in the way of 2500s in anyone’s inventory except some Tradesmans and a few loaded Laramies, a couple Power Wagons, and very little in between.
Rebates are non existent except for the usual active duty military, first responders and recent grad ones.
I was wanting used, but the used market is nuts now, why buy a 2-3 year old truck with 40,000 miles if you can buy new with a factory warranty and no miles for $5000 more?

GOOD luck with that code mS ....

A dealer down in Florida weasled out of the one I got ...

But I'm not done with them yet

BUNCH of new Rams at my local dealer - just drove past it today. Most of them are going to be 1500 Crew Cabs & 4x4. None of the dealers here have any Challengers. Is Brampton still idled because of no chips?

Contract signed with the F&F price (invoice -1%), and deposit paid, I don't how they could weasel out of the deal doc?
Truck with "built especially for Mastershake" printed on the window sticker scheduled to arrive first week of May.
I did notice on the 100 pages of details of F&F someone posted here not long ago, that SRT vehicles are not eligible. Isn't that what you have?
Rams are eligible, with the exception of TRX since that must be SRT?

I like mastershake just got an email today with a vin # for my new Ram Classic supposed delivery the week of May 3rd

Salesman emailed me today that my build is scheduled next week! With delivery then about 3 weeks afterwards. So 10-12 weeks originally estimated is shortened to 6 weeks, and here I thought production was all messed up by shortages and I’d be lucky to see my truck by July....
I know you shouldn’t count your chickens before they are parked in your driveway, but looking like I won’t have to worry about not getting it in time for show season.

Thats great !! hope mine is the same! I am trying to time selling my 08, dropping my trailer at the track and the new one arriving. First points day is April 17 fingers crossed it comes by then and the 08 is sold. The dealer gave me a good price on trade but I think I can sell it on my own for more if I get a build notice like you received I can get more aggressive with the sale.