Want to buy a new car? You may have to wait for it

Want to buy a new car? You may have to wait for it

Muscat: The love for, and wish to buy latest car models among citizens as well as expatriates in Oman is a well-known.

Though new cars are available at showrooms, latest models are out of stock at some places, according to dealers.

Salesmen explaining the latest features and attractions of a new model at mega car showrooms in Oman was a common sight in the past. Not anymore, at least for now.

The shortage of semiconductor computer chips across the globe has led to massive disruption in the car industry, with sales and production numbers taking a massive global hit.

A number of leading automobile dealers in the Sultanate of Oman admit that there is a waiting list of bookings for new car models at car showrooms.

The problems can be traced back to the Covid-19 pandemic, and are an ongoing issue due to the resultant supply-chain crisis.

The impact meant that many semiconductor factories were closed down, and now are running low on staff which seriously affected the global supply.

Initially the shortage of the silicon chips led automotive companies to halt production in some cases.

The Times of Oman spoke to some top officials of car dealers in the country and there was a unanimous view that