Special-edition VW, Skoda and Cupra models to combat supply issues
Volkswagen Group Australia juggling a mixed bag of vehicle and component supply woesVolkswagen Group Australia has revealed it plans to counter its current supply issues with a raft of appropriately-priced special-editions across its VW, Skoda and Cupra brands, with no return to normality on the cards until at least 2024.
Divulging its current supply woes and subsequent coping strategies to carsales this week, VGA said the Volkswagen Golf, Tiguan and Caddy, the Skoda Fabia and Octavia, and the Cupra Leon PHEV and Formentor PHEV were all in particularly short supply as demand for new cars continues to soar amid the ongoing semi-conductor crisis.
“Where there are restrictions or long wait times with certain models, our target is to balance these with similar specification grades or special-editions that are easier to access and more readily available, to better serve customer choice and decision making,” said a VGA spokesperson.
“There are ‘green shoots’ and our headquarters are willing and able to deliver solutions, such as increased supply of T-Roc R and Touareg… as well as limited-edition models just for Australia such as the Tiguan Monochrome and Tiguan Allspace Adventure, the T-Roc R Grid Edition and Tiguan R Grid Edition.”
The Grid Edition R models are perhaps the best examples of the special-editions stepping up as night watchmen given new orders for both the standard Tiguan R and Golf R could take up to 12 months to be delivered, as could the volume-selling Tiguan 162TSI variants.
The spokesperson was hesitant to provide many more lead times on the model lines listed above given the “highly variable” nature of the situation and diversity of said models, but conversely confirmed strong supply of the Volkswagen T-Roc, Tiguan Allspace, Passat, Arteon, Touareg, Skoda Karoq and combustion-powered Cupra Leon, Formentor and Ateca variants.
“[Cupra] Born launches in early April and we are confident of strong supply,” they said.
Supply of the combustion Cupra Leon hatch range should also be about to get a booster shot with orders finally opening for the entry-level V variant, which retails from $43,990 plus on-road costs.
Cupra Australia hasn’t confirmed when the first examples will arrive on Aussie soil, but it’s possible the entry-level Leon could fall foul of the extended quarantine periods currently being experienced at ports around the country – another key factor in the extended delivery delays not just being faced by VGA but the rest of the industry.
The other primary antagonist is the seemingly endless semi-conductor crisis which has forced some brands, including Volkswagen and Skoda, to down-spec their cars in the name of maintaining supply.
“Where there are specification changes these are clearly articulated and with a corresponding price decrease where applicable,” the spokesperson said.
“[For example] Side Assist and rear-cross traffic alert have not been available on key MY23 Volkswagen models.
“We intend to add these items back as soon as possible.”
It was also revealed the usually standard reversing camera in the VW Golf, Caddy and Octavia is not presently available from factory and isn’t expected to come back online until the second quarter of this year.
“We will not introduce any of these vehicles to Australia until this feature comes back online,” said VGA.
Related: Cupra Born EV almost sold out before it arrives
Related: Volkswagen forecasts rocky year ahead
Related: Volkswagen T-Roc to be downgraded
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