Volkswagen hit by fresh supply shortage

There are just 61 new Mk8 Volkswagen Golf cars available for sale across the German brand’s national dealer network, and 59 examples of the recently updated Volkswagen Tiguan, according to a new stock indicator on Volkswagen Australia’s website.

Furthermore, there are no new versions of the most popular 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI R-Line variant in the range, and officials say that it will remain that way until fresh supply arrives next year.

The all-new Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake tipped for an October arrival will also initially be limited to approximately 30 vehicles until at least the second quarter of 2022.

Volkswagen says the company’s new stock indicator – which is similar to online tools introduced by other car-makers on their websites – is designed to “keep customers informed as to the progress of their preferred vehicles in the supply chain”.

But it also highlights the crippling effects of the global semi-conductor shortage that is delaying the delivery of new cars.

In a statement, VW said local volumes are much freer-flowing for the Volkswagen T-Cross and T-Roc small SUVs, as well as the Polo light hatch.

An imminent shipment of about 1000 Volkswagen Amarok utes, which has been subject to unrelated shipping delays, is also set to increase stock from the current national indication of just 60 units.

“[Sourcing desired production is a] perennial factor in the importing of European vehicles, especially those that are in great demand by markets in closer proximity to the factories,” said Volkswagen Australia managing director Michael Bartsch.

“The shortage of this key component is being felt in the supply in some ranges. While the supply disposition changes rapidly, even daily, Volkswagen is resolved to provide customers with the latest information possible.”

Manufacturers across the board continue to be hamstrung by the semi-conductor shortage, which was recently tipped to drag into 2022.

In May, global industry consulting firm AlixPartners predicted the chip shortage would cost global auto-makers upwards of $110 billion. The firm said there would be a production loss of 3.9 million vehicles this year as a direct result of the crisis.

Volkswagen is not alone with its global stock situation, but its decision to pursue sales of vehicles with richer profits is having a clear impact on garden-variety models.

On a global scale, sister companies Audi and Porsche recently announced record deliveries for the first half of 2021 and an operating return on sales of 10.7 per cent and 17.6 per cent respectively.

Volkswagen Australia is confident it will resume regular stock levels in the foreseeable future.

“To place the current semi-conductor issue in context, the brand experienced longer delays on certain models due to the mass re-testing required by the adoption of WLTP fuel consumption testing in Europe, Bartsch said.

“For instance, the full Passat and Arteon ranges are only this year returning to local showrooms after prolonged WLTP-related absences.”

COVID-related shutdowns of semi-conductor factories are said to be responsible for the huge shortfall in chip supplies, an issue not only affecting the car industry but consumer electronics and computer manufacturers as well.

When the initial lockdowns triggered a collapse in global vehicle sales last year, car-makers slashed orders for parts. At the same time, there was a huge surge in demand for consumer electronics, which caused the chip industry to shift their production to serve that demand.

When car sales began to recuperate at the back end of 2020 and have since surged in 2021, semi-conductor plants concentrated in Taiwan, South Korea and China could not supply the rush of new orders from the auto industry.