GM Pulls HD Radio From 2021 Silverado and Sierra Pickups Over Chip Shortage

Another feature bites the dust.

byRob Stumpf|
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You probably already know there's an ongoing semiconductor shortage that's wreaking havoc on new cars and trucks. Not only are new vehicles hard to come by because of this pandemic-caused supply chain issue, but the ones that are actually available at dealerships may be missing some bells and whistles like auto start-stop and blind-spot monitoring. Now you can add one more to the list: HD Radio.

According to a report from GM Trucks, General Motors has nixed the HD Radio feature of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 due to the lack of hardware.

via General Motors

In an email sent to dealers, GM reportedly notified them of the impending change, noting that select trims of future trucks would be delivered without the equipment necessary for HD Radio to function. The feature is slated to be axed on most trims, including lower-level trims where HD Radio is an option rather than a standard feature.

  • 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
    • LS
    • RST
    • LT
    • Trail Boss
    • LTZ
    • High Country
  • 2021 GMC Sierra 1500
    • SLE
    • SLT
    • Elevation
    • AT4
    • Denali

Meanwhile, all 2022 HD-series pickups (2500 and 3500) will forego the equipment according to the report.

The change will begin for the current model year 1500 trucks manufactured after July 12, 2021. Any vehicle which is not equipped with the necessary hardware will receive a specific Regular Production Option (RPO) code on the vehicle's Monroney label: RG0. If HD Radio is a must-have feature for you, be sure to check the Monroney accordingly. GM will also reportedly offer a $50 MSRP credit for vehicles equipped with this package.

We reached out to GM for comment but have yet to hear back.

In a world where streaming services are often used in conjunction with large infotainment screens that offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it's somewhat odd to nitpick over a feature as rudimentary as HD Radio. However, many drivers still use their vehicle's tuner every single day, so there will still be a potential impact on customers.

It's worth noting that the Silverado and Sierra are expected to undergo a mid-cycle refresh for the 2022 model year. That means the inclusion of HD Radio in future models is unknown. Spy photos have shown an updated infotainment system running Android Automotive OS, signaling a potential departure from GM's proprietary software.

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