The Big Number: The chips are down for automakers – and so are car sales

The big number: Ford, General Motors and other automakers were gleefully anticipating their best sales year ever in 2021: 18 million-plus vehicles sold. Then the chip shortage struck.

Now the auto industry might be lucky to match 2020’s depressed sales.

What happened: Thanks to a resurgent U.S. economy and ultra-low interest rates, sales…