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A batch of 1500 additional Volkswagen T-Roc R small SUVs – plus 300 special editions – due over the coming months is expected to cut wait times.
Wait times for the 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc R small performance SUV are due to be slashed from six months to a few weeks, as an additional 1500 examples are secured for Australia.
Volkswagen Australia today confirmed it has “negotiated extra production” for 1500 additional examples of the T-Roc R small SUV, which are due to be produced over the next six months.
A company spokesperson told Drive the increased allocation of vehicles is expected to reduce wait times for a new T-Roc R from six months today, to “close to immediate delivery from February onwards”.
These 1500 examples of the fully-featured T-Roc R flagship model are in addition to a limited run of 300 T-Roc R ‘Grid Editions’, due to arrive in local showrooms next month.
The Grid Edition removes items such as matrix LED headlights, a power driver’s seat, electric tailgate, and blind-spot monitoring to navigate delays caused by a shortage of computer chips.
It is worth noting the missing technology cannot be added to vehicles at a later date, though could return on future models when semiconductor supply eventually returns to normal.
Prices for the Grid Edition start from $54,300 plus on-road costs – $6000 less than the standard T-Roc R ($60,300 plus on-road costs), which was hit with a $1000 price rise from January 1.
“We can accept supply shortages of popular models or we can try to effect solutions. Ours is a primary R market so in addition to securing extra T-Roc R production, we’ll offer a unique to Australia T-Roc R Grid Edition,” Volkswagen Australia passenger vehicles director Michal Szaniecki said in a media statement.
The 1500-vehicle allocation of additional T-Roc R performance SUVs follows a batch of 1000 extra Touareg large SUVs the car maker secured for Australia late last year.
These are bright spots after multiple years of stock shortages for Volkswagen Australia, due to factors ranging from new emissions regulations in Europe that limited supply, and lengthy periods between old and new models, to production slowdowns and parts shortages caused by COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine (which manufactures key electrical components).
Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
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