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Temporary order freeze for hybrid models from Volkswagen
A charging cable is plugged into a Golf. Photo: Hendrik Schmidt/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB
© dpa-infocom GmbH
At Volkswagen, the production of hybrid cars is apparently coming to a standstill. According to dealers, several models cannot currently be ordered – because important parts are missing.
Persistent problems in the chip supply and with further deliveries are forcing VW to temporarily stop orders for several models with hybrid drives. This is based on information from dealer circles.
In addition, the “currently dramatic situation in Ukraine” is mentioned – other car manufacturers also purchase cables and cable systems from there. On Wednesday, “all currently available” plug-in hybrid versions of the Golf, Tiguan, Passat, Arteon and Touareg can now be ordered by customers for the last time. For these copies, however, delivery in the current year can no longer be guaranteed.
The group headquarters in Wolfsburg confirmed the step on Tuesday on request. The interest in the combined electric and combustion vehicles is high – the production possibilities cannot keep up with the order volume.
The E-Up is still available
Customers have recently had to put up with very long waiting times. In addition to the delivery failures, the uncertainty about future subsidies for hybrid cars after 2022 also plays a role. Other car manufacturers also restricted ordering options – such as Mercedes-Benz for its E-Class sedan in Germany in February.
The VW dealer network says about the hybrid cars: “For the vehicles in question, it may be that at the time of delivery the vehicle no longer meets the then applicable requirements for the environmental bonus (including the innovation bonus) or that there is no more funding or only a reduced one funding is granted.”
For the electric version of the smallest VW model, the E-Up, the Wolfsburg-based company recently lifted an order freeze. The car had been taken out of the range for a long time due to supply problems and high demand, but since March it has been available again from some dealers in an initially limited number. VW said progress had been made in processing the orders that had accumulated over the past year and a half. The E-Up should be able to be reordered “promptly”.