Audi seems to raised provide in 2023

Audi Australia’s new managing director Jeff Mannering says the corporate is about to safe considerably higher automobile provide subsequent yr after a troublesome 2022 – during which its gross sales have slipped 14.1 per cent.

Whereas most automotive manufacturers’ holding yards have been affected by headwinds corresponding to COVID, chip shortages, the battle in Ukraine, and the delivery disaster, Audi and the broader Volkswagen Group have been hit worse than most.

Audi’s year-to-date gross sales in Australia sit at 11,812 models, its lowest January to October tally since 2010.

Mercedes-Benz Vehicles over the identical interval this yr has offered 23,280 models (down 5.5 per cent), BMW 20,104 (down 3.7 per cent), and Volvo 8852 (up 11.6 per cent). Lexus has fared worse in proportion phrases, down 26.1 per cent to 5976 with its personal Toyota Group shortages.

“It’s a fancy query, however I’m completely optimistic we’re going to get extra manufacturing subsequent yr,” Mr Mannering advised us.

“… I’m 99.9 per cent assured that offer can be higher,” he added, pointing however to potential issues that would trigger additional points in 2023 corresponding to gasoline provide in Europe the place most of its automobiles are made.

“We’re simply doing our budgets now and our quantity finances is predicated on manufacturing budgets, and that’s considerably higher than what we had this yr,” he mentioned, referring to the commitments given to Audi Australia by its Group factories.

Mr Mannering gave some insights into the challenges he expects to face in his new function over the subsequent short time, including a core focus for the broader VW Group right here can be to expedite the time it takes between a automobile launch and its arrival in Australia.

“It’s not simply the semiconductor subject, not simply the Ukraine-Russia subject, however logistics is a giant subject in the meanwhile, to even get vehicles and trains from the manufacturing unit, to ship automobiles, the one nation that’s worse off is New Zealand. We’re 90 days from time of ending manufacturing to attending to Australia,” he mentioned.

He added that fewer Audis transferring ahead would come lacking sure options – a legacy of semiconductor scarcity points, offset by provided reductions – save maybe for high stage tech corresponding to laser lights.

Regardless of the rosier 2023 outlook, one in-demand Audi that gained’t get right here till 2024 on the earliest is the This autumn e-tron EV, the model’s rival for the Tesla Mannequin Y, BMW iX1, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Lexus UX300e, and Mercedes-Benz EQA.

“It [Q4 launch] gained’t be subsequent yr. Manufacturing could begin subsequent yr – not will, might – however the automotive gained’t be launched. I might find it irresistible to be right here early 2024, that’s what we’re pushing for,” mentioned Mr Mannering.