2023 VW sales surge as Golf, Tiguan and T-Roc supply comes onstream

Volkswagen Australia is enjoying a significant boost in sales, up 51.7 per cent to the end of April this year, as supply of key models become more readily available.

Leading the charge is the VW T-Roc small SUV, which is now the brands best-selling model on 2410 units, a steep increase of 105.8 per cent compared to the same time last year.

However, it is the Tiguan and Tiguan Allspace that are seeing the most significant sales increases year-on-year, up 472.6 and 594.1 per cent to 2233 and 1534 units respectively for second and fourth place on VW Australia’s sales ladder.

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Splitting the two Tiguans is the T-Cross light SUV, amassing 1904 new registrations so far in 2023 – a modest 10.4 per cent bump compared to its surging stablemates.

Rounding out the VW SUV line-up is the upmarket Touareg, up 78.9 per cent to 356 sales.

And it’s not just the SUVs and crossovers that are riding high, as the Golf hatchback and wagon is also up 103.2 per cent (752 sales) due to a freer supply of stock.

Likewise, the Arteon is finding its audience thanks to availability of the performance sedan and shooting brake, up 100.9 per cent to 235 sales.

And even the Passat sedan and Passat Alltrack are enjoying a larger market share than last year, finding 259 (+32.8%) and 81 (+237.5%) new homes in 2023.

This leaves the Polo light hatchback as the only VW passenger car not breaking new ground this year, as sales drop 91.3 per cent to 77 units.

Tiguan sales are up 472.6 per cent year-on-year.

And while VW’s SUVs and passenger cars are largely enjoying a sales turnaround, the commercial products are yet to hit their stride.

The new-generation Amarok is expected to become the brands best-seller, but having just launched to showrooms this month, has not had a chance to impact VW’s bottom line just yet. With the model on runout until now, there have been 810 new registrations (-45.6%) so far this year.

Caddy, Caddy Van, Caravelle and Transporter are all down (-32.9%, -22.2%, -25.0%, -27.0% respectively), but California (43 sales YTD, +126.3%), Crafter (441 sales YTD, +96.9%) and Multivan (258 sales YTD, +235.1%)

Speaking to CarsGuide, Volkswagen Group Australia Product and PR Communications Manager Daniel DeGasperi said better supply has helped, but also new special-edition variants are having a positive effect on sales.

The new Amarok is expected to become the VW's best-seller.

“Innovative value-led special editions, plus improved 110TSI and R supply have helped Tiguan sales, ably supported by strong T-Roc supply - every T-Roc including R is available now. There is also strong supply of T-Cross Style, a third key SUV,” he said.

“For some time, we have spoken of ‘green shoots’ forming regarding supply, and we are starting to see this positive turn-around – just as the much-anticipated Amarok lands. We are therefore confident of an improved year of sales for Volkswagen.”

So far in 2023, VW’s tally of 11,905 units places it 11th on the sales charts just behind Isuzu Ute (13,265) but ahead of Nissan (11,434).