Automakers are facing an uphill battle as inventory piles up and workers threaten to go on strike

• After a few years of smooth-sailing, Detroit automakers are coming up against several challenges.
• A possible UAW strike, supply chain hurdles, and inventory building up threaten carmakers' peace.
• All the pressure on automakers could affect car buyers and investors.

The peace that Detroit automakers have had over the past several months is getting interrupted — and car buyers and investors should brace themselves.

When the pandemic began, carmakers faced a rocky road. Supply chain constraints, especially with regard to computer chips, limited their ability to produce enough vehicles to keep up with demand.