Volkswagen Golf GTI, R-Line back on sale after production pause

New orders for the 2023 Volkswagen Golf 110TSI R-Line and Golf GTI hatchbacks have resumed after a pause on production due to parts shortages – but the Golf R hot-hatch flagship remains off-sale for the time being.

As previously reported, a shortage of reversing cameras – deemed a must for locally-delivered vehicles – has brought production of the Volkswagen Golf for Australia to all but a halt over the past few months.

Volkswagen Australia has confirmed the Golf 110TSI R-Line and Golf GTI have "become available to order effective immediately", after "a [short] absence" that saw orders paused briefly.

The company says about 1300 examples of the two models are due in Australia "soon" – after a long period of constrained supply, even prior to the reversing camera shortage – with the aim of decreasing wait times to "around three months in the near future."

However, the Golf R flagship – in hatchback and wagon forms – remains unavailable, after orders were paused in February amid long wait times and constrained production.

Meanwhile, the cheaper base 'Golf' and mid-grade Life models in the Volkswagen Golf range are still facing "imminent availability," a VW Australia spokesperson told Drive, and are arriving "in smaller numbers" than the R-Line and GTI.

This applies to hatchback and wagon versions of the base Golf and Golf Life, though there is less demand for the wagon, accounting for about a tenth of sales.

MORE: Volkswagen Golf R orders paused

The batch of Golf R-Line and GTI hatchbacks coming to Australia return to a full feature list, after blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were made unavailable for half of last year due to semiconductor shortages.

Prices increased for both models by $500 for the new year, to $40,490 plus on-road costs for the R-Line, and $55,490 plus on-road costs for the GTI. Further optional packages are available at extra cost.

The stock boost for the Golf GTI and R-Line join a range of other Volkswagen models available for immediate delivery, or wait times of less than three months.

These include the T-Cross 85TSI Style city SUV (as announced last week), T-Roc small SUV (including the T-Roc R), Tiguan Allspace family SUV in 132TSI Life and 162TSI Adventure forms, Passat and Arteon sedans and wagons, and the Touareg large luxury SUV.