Automakers shift toward reservations, altering how Americans buy cars

• Ford has also taken reservations for the Mustang Mach-E, Bronco and F-150 Lightning.
• The company is among a growing number of automakers that are accepting reservations — including Tesla, GM, Jeep and Lucid.

Context: The global chip shortage has triggered vehicle shortfalls, driving up prices and creating more competition for inventory.

• “The chip shortage caused some unhappy consumers,” Autotrader analyst Michelle Krebs tells Axios. Automakers are “trying to have a little more control.”

How it works: Consumers typically reserve vehicles for free or for a small fee through automakers’ websites, securing their place in line. Then they are directed to a dealer to pay up when the vehicle is available.

But, but, but: Automakers are still under pressure to get cars on dealership lots because no one likes having to wait months.

• “That ain’t the American way,” Krebs says.

The bottom line: Automakers are OK missing out on a few immediate orders if it means they can make production plans with confidence that they won’t end up building more units than they can sell.