Volkswagen-Audi Australia boss steps down

The most senior executive at the Volkswagen and Audi group of car brands in Australia, Paul Sansom, has stepped down from his position after less than a year in the top job amid a sharp decline in sales as the rest of the automotive industry has shown signs of a recovery.

Mr Sansom, 52, who was appointed as the boss of Audi Australia in 2017 before he was promoted to also oversee associated brands Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra in January 2022, announced his departure from the company to staff today, after a period of leave.

The British-born executive, a 20-year veteran of the Volkswagen and Audi group of companies, has previously held international postings in the UK and South Africa.

Volkswagen and Audi historically appoint executives to top positions for three to five years, however Mr Sansom's time as managing director of Volkswagen Group Australia (which manages the Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Cupra brands) has come to an end in less than 12 months.

A media statement from Volkswagen Group Australia said Mr Sansom has "stepped down to take a well-earned break before beginning the next exciting chapter of his career.”

“Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) Managing Director Paul Sansom has resigned after two decades with the VW Group here and abroad,”the media statement said.

"He had led Audi in this country since 2017 having previously been managing director of Audi in South Africa. He joined the Volkswagen Group in his native UK in 2003.

Official new-car sales figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries show a downturn across three of the four established brands, and a slow start for the recently-arrived Spanish off-shoot Cupra.

So far this year, to the end of November, Volkswagen sales are down by 27 per cent, Audi sales are down by 11 per cent, and Skoda sales are down by 32 per cent – in a market that is up by 2.3 per cent over the same period.

Cupra has reported 914 cars as sold in its first four months in Australia.

The sharp sales slowdown is likely to have been the result of severe stock shortages caused by production interruptions and shipping bottlenecks that have affected most major automotive companies.

The company said current Volkswagen Group Australia financial director Gabriele de Neidels has been appointed as the interim successor to Mr Sansom.