DETROIT – General Motors’Due to an ongoing shortage in semiconductor chips, U.S. vehicle sales plunged by over 30% during the third quarter compared with last year. Dealer inventories were also reduced.

On Friday, the Detroit automaker said that it sold approximately 447,000 vehicles between July and September. This is 32.8% less than a year ago when sales volume was lower due to coronavirus pandemic. This was slightly more than the industry analysts expected of 28,9% and 31,5%.

GM’s chip shortage caused them to shut down their plants and partially manufacture vehicles in high demand, such as the full-size pickup trucks. They will then complete production when chips are available.

GM last month warned that its North American wholesale volumes were at risk. down about 200,000 unitsIn the second half 2021, the earnings were higher than in the first six month of the year. The company maintains its financial guidance for 2019, which includes adjusted earnings of between $11.5 billion to $13.5 billion or $5.40-$6.40 per share.

GM will be the first major automaker to announce third-quarter results on Friday. Overall, analysts estimate automakers sold less than 3.4 million vehiclesIt is down 13% to 14% compared with the same period last year.