The shortages and decline is sales, however, has resulted in more dealer inventory and the expectation of slightly lower prices.
Automakers said Wednesday that they sold 13.9 million cars, trucks, SUVs and vans last year – the lowest sales number since 2011 when the economy was recovering from the Great Recession.
Still sales were up slightly in the fourth quarter, which has analysts projecting they will increase this year by roughly 1 million – to about 14.8 million.
