Dealership Salesman Says Automakers Are 'Shorting' the Market. Then He Points to His Most Popular Volkswagen as a Prime Example

"If they send us 30 of these, they'd be sold within a week."

Photo by: teddydautomotive & Andrea De Santis

By: Chad Swiatecki

Aug 18, 2025 at 9:00pm ET

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“I’m convinced these car manufacturers are intentionally shorting the market,” a frustrated Volkswagen salesman says while standing in front of the only 2025 Tiguan SEL R-Line he says his dealership has received in months. Is he onto something?

The TikTok from salesman Teddy Delgross (@teddyautomotive) of Sendell Volkswagen in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, shows him next to the lonely Tiguan on his lot, which was reserved by customers weeks before it arrived.

“This is literally the car that everyone wants, and they send us one every three months,” he says. “If they send us 30 of these, they'd be sold within a week.”

What Makes the 2025 Tiguan So Popular?

In the video, Delgross highlights the appeal of the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line, a midsize SUV that has quietly become one of VW’s best-selling models in the U.S. market. The new Tiguan delivers a premium experience at a competitive price, boasting features like semi-aniline leather seats with massage functionality, a heads-up display, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof.

“For 40 grand,” Delgross says, “you get everything.”

Volkswagen has not yet fully released all U.S. specifications or pricing for the 2025 Tiguan, but press materials describe a complete redesign built on the MQB evo platform, with improved infotainment, driver assistance systems, and powertrain efficiency. U.S. models are expected to follow suit.

According to Consumer Reports, the current-generation Tiguan has long been praised for its balance of value, space, and European handling feel, positioning it well against popular rivals like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

Inventory Issues Persist

The TikTok clip has resonated because it taps into a lingering frustration: many dealers and buyers still feel the squeeze of low inventory, even as the industry supposedly rebounds from pandemic-era supply chain disruptions.

Volkswagen of America sold 94,000 Tiguans in 2024, according to data from Wards Auto, making it the brand’s top-selling vehicle in the U.S., making it the brand’s top-selling vehicle in the U.S. for several years running. However, production has faced headwinds. Volkswagen confirmed delays in Tiguan assembly in late 2023 and early 2024 due to software integration challenges and parts shortages at its Wolfsburg, Germany plant, which is the primary source of the redesigned model.

While overall inventory levels in the U.S. auto market have improved and are returning close to pre-pandemic norms—October 2024 saw about 81 days' supply, only one day above 2019—the situation remains uneven. Cox Automotive’s data show that by early May 2025, total new-vehicle inventory had fallen to 2.49 million units, and days’ supply dropped to just 66 days, both markedly lower than last year’s figures. This suggests some models, especially those in high demand, are still being limited in supply, potentially as a strategic effort by automakers to preserve pricing amid rising demand.

What Is Scarcity Pricing?

Delgross’s speculation echoes what some analysts have quietly suggested: automakers, after experiencing record per-vehicle profits during the chip shortage, may now see value in keeping supply tight.

This idea isn’t without precedent. Automakers made more money selling fewer cars in 2021–2022 than they did pre-pandemic, and some brands adopted allocation models that favored margin over volume. Volkswagen was among those who restructured production planning and dealer allocations during that time.

Critics argue this strategy has morphed into an artificial scarcity model, especially in high-demand segments like crossovers. However, defenders say it’s a rational response to uncertain parts availability, regulatory changes, and shifting consumer preferences.

Notably, VW’s internal push toward electrification, with major resources devoted to the ID.4 and new Scout-branded EVs, may also be pulling production attention away from combustion-powered models like the Tiguan. Reuters reports that the company plans to expand EV production capacity in North America, and recent investments in Canadian battery supply chains could shift internal priorities for years to come.

What do you think?

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For buyers, the result is a confusing and sometimes frustrating experience. While MSRP on the Tiguan remains competitive, popular trims like the SEL R-Line are difficult to find without advance deposits or preorders.

Motor1 reached out to Delgross via phone, and to Volkswagen via email. We’ll update this if either responds.