Karoq supply to improve as Skoda expects chip shortages to ease next year

John Law

Contributor

Skoda’s Australian boss has indicated that stock levels for the Karoq SUV should improve next year as chip shortages are predicted to ease next year

The Skoda Karoq hasn’t made the mark it could have in Australian charts. The Karoq sits in Australia’s favourite family segment – the midsize SUV – which should see booming sales.

Since its launch in 2018, Skoda has only managed to shift about 5000 Karoqs. In July 2022 alone, segment leader Toyota sold 2437 RAV4s. But this isn’t for lack of demand, rather, the Karoq has been plagued with supply issues its entire life.

It’s so much so that Skoda hasn’t been able to run any marketing campaigns, or even conduct a proper media launch for the Karoq in Australia.

Skoda says Karoq supply is set to improve moving forward

With only two factories in Czech producing the brand’s seven models, supply is naturally limited. But, Skoda says this is set to change over the next 12 months.

To alleviate production pressure, Skoda Australia brand director, Michael Irmer, told Chasing Cars that construction of the Superb large car will eventually transition out of Czech to Volkswagen’s Bratislava facility in Slovakia to be produced alongside the Volkswagen Passat.

Alongside more production allocated for Karoq, Mr Irmer also said “we hope by the middle of next year Skoda will have no more semiconductor issues. That’s what we hope and believe, but time will tell.”

Are chip shortages a thing of the past? Perhaps by next year, according to Skoda

Mr Irmer’s comments do go against technology giant Bosch’s estimation that shortages won’t ease globally until 2026, though Skoda being a fairly small player in overall Australian sales bodes better for improved supply than giants such as Toyota.

What’s the wait time for a new Karoq?

At time of writing, Mr Irmer quoted a three-to-six-month wait time on the newly facelifted Karoq that will launch officially later this month. Skoda’s website features a stock locator for those who want more location specific information.

“Depending on the variant it might be reasonably soon, so it could be as short as three months because we have production now [after factory holidays], but a certain configuration could take longer,” Mr Irmer said.

Skoda offers two Karoq grades in Australia, the 140TSI Sportline is pictured here

The Karoq 110TSI Style that starts at $42,990 driveaway is likely to have a shorter wait time.

As for equipment levels, almost all of the technology is now back on line for the 110kW/250Nm Karoq Style, meaning buyers will be able to option blind-spot monitoring (Side Assist in Skoda-speak) and rear cross-traffic alert for $1250.

Two option packs are available for Karoq. The $5900 tech pack adds safety features such as Matrix LED headlights, 360-monitor, stop and go for adaptive cruise control, with ambient lighting and a 9.2-inch touchscreen also featured.

Skoda Karoq 2022 interior — The Karoq will hit Australian showrooms shortly

The Premium pack takes everything in the Tech pack and adds leather upholstery, heated seats, power front seats and DSG shift paddles.

Moving up to the $49,990-driveaway Karoq Sportline adds all-wheel drive and swaps the eight-speed Aisin automatic for a seven-speed DCT matched with a 140kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder.

The Sportline’s bucket seats are appointed in fabric upholstery, while outside there are 19-inch alloy wheels, a black pack and Matrix LED headlights as standard.