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Semiconductor shortage hits Volkswagen Golf, Tiguan and Touareg; Amarok has logistics delays

Volkswagen is the latest brand struck by stock shortages due to semiconductor delays on its most popular models. However, it has good supply across other vehicles in the range.


Volkswagen customers in Australia are likely to experience delivery delays of key models – such as the new Golf hatch, updated Tiguan mid-size SUV, and large Touareg family SUV – caused by the global semiconductor shortage.

Other popular brands such as Hyundai, Kia and Nissan have recently notified dealers of severe stock shortages in the coming months, while market leader Toyota claims it is largely unaffected other than delays caused by a surge in demand.

However, Volkswagen Australia has advised its dealer network to brace for longer waiting times across certain variants of the Golf, Tiguan and Touareg, while the Amarok ute has been held up by logistics delays.

“The global semiconductor shortage and international demand will impact the supply of some model lines for the remainder of 2021,” Volkswagen Group Australia said in a media statement.

“While the semiconductor shortage poses no significantly greater issue than those our brands deal with on a weekly basis, it’s important that customers are made aware of them,” said Volkswagen Group Australia boss, Michael Bartsch.

The executive said Volkswagen was able to offer customers a choice of other vehicles, and pointed out supply of models such as the Polo hatch, T-Cross and T-Roc city SUVs, Tiguan Allspace seven-seat family SUV, and the Passat and Arteon sedans was largely “unaffected”.

Volkswagen said it is monitoring the stock situation daily and will update its dealers as information becomes available, and encouraged customers to “get in the queue” so they don’t miss out on a production slot in the second half of the year.

“The situation is subject to rapid change,” said Mr Bartsch in a media statement. “We are in daily contact with head offices to seek means of improving the supply of affected variants.”

A notice sent to dealers detailed a “slow-down in production” of right-hand-drive Golfs relating to the semiconductors required for the Harmon Kardon sound system used in more expensive variants, and the 'DQ381' seven-speed DSG transmission of the GTI.

While supply of the Tiguan 110TSI and 132TSI variants is not affected, including those with the Luxury Package, Volkswagen said, there are delays on the popular R-Line models (162TSI and the new 147TDI) due to component shortages for its gearbox – compounded by a lack of leather upholstery.

Volkswagen Australia says it “assures customers that outstanding orders will be prioritised before new orders are accepted”.

There is an estimated eight-week delay on the Volkswagen Touareg 210TDI due to components needed for its “Innovision” twin-screen cockpit.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen Australia’s ute and van division says the Amarok has been affected by “logistical delays,” though the company expects arrivals late in June and early in July.

A spike in demand has driven a stock shortage in the recently updated Volkswagen Transporter T6.1 van range, which is “selling rapidly and further supply is sought”.

And global demand for the VW Crafter large van range – as well as the semiconductor shortage – means most Crafter 35 orders will be pushed back to 2022, while a number of Crafter 50 variants will be delivered this year.

The new Caddy range is, for now, unaffected and due on sale in July ahead of deliveries in August.

Meanwhile, Volkwagen’s sister brand Skoda is reporting stock shortages of the new Octavia sedan and wagon, and recently-released Kamiq SUV.


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Joshua Dowling

Joshua Dowling has been a motoring journalist for more than 20 years, spending most of that time working for The Sydney Morning Herald (as motoring editor and one of the early members of the Drive team) and News Corp Australia. He joined CarAdvice / Drive in 2018, and has been a World Car of the Year judge for more than 10 years.

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