Does Genesis have an advantage over Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz? Australian market models to maintain full specification despite chip shortage

With the semiconductor chip shortage biting hard across the globe, an increasing number of manufacturers have been forced to drop features from some models to avoid further disruptions to production and deliveries.

That means some new models are going without in-car tech features like digital instrument clusters, or in some cases, safety gear.

The US outpost of Genesis Motors – Hyundai Group’s premium brand – has been forced to drop some functions from its active safety suite in the G80 sedan and GV70 and GV80 SUVs.

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Genesis took this decision to avoid production delays and to ensure customers get their cars sooner.

The brand has deleted the Highway Driving Assist II (HDA) system that is a grouping of driving aid functions, which is standard on the G80 and GV80 and optional on the GV70.

Instead, they will be fitted with the original Highway Driving Assist function that still includes features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and lane centring, but does without the machine learning component of HDA II.

That system can adapt the adaptive cruise control to driver tendencies, as well as the response time when vehicles cut in in front of the car. It also adds functionality to evasive steering assist, lane change assist, lane follow assist and more.

The Genesis G80 sedan is one of the models impacted by the chip crisis in the United States.

Genesis is lowering the price of the models by $200 in the US to make up for the de-specification.

However, a Genesis Motors Australia spokesperson confirmed with CarsGuide that it will not be removing any functionality from its models Down Under

Some of its European rivals in Australia have been forced to drop certain features in the past 12 months

Last year, BMW Australia announced that selected variants of the 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series passenger cars, X5, X6, and X7 SUVs, and the Z4 sports car would be sold without the touch functionality of its multimedia system. All controls could only be accessed via the iDrive controller or by using the ‘Hey BMW’ voice function.

Earlier last year, Mercedes-Benz confirmed that certain A-Class, B-Class, CLA, GLA and GLB variants would have to go without the Pre-Safe advanced safety technology.

Some Audi models were sold without the wireless charging pad, electrically adjustable steering column or tyre pressure monitoring.

A number of these omissions have since returned to these models, so best check with the dealer if you’re looking to buy.

Incidentally, the Genesis spokesperson added that there would be no omissions from any Hyundai models either as a result of the chip shortage.