Renault: The latest changes due to semiconductor shortages

Renault Australia is the latest in a long of list of automakers feeling the effects of the global semiconductor shortage.

Like many other automakers, Renault has temporarily removed certain features from the Captur and Arkana SUVs in order to keep the cars rolling out of the factories.

“Like every OEM currently, Renault has also been impacted by the global semi-conductor shortages and, as a result, has made temporary adjustments to our local specifications,” said a spokesperson for Renault’s local distributor Ateco.

Currently missing on both the Renault Captur and Arkana are electric folding mirrors.

Renault: The latest changes due to semiconductor shortages — ***Captur***

The Ateco spokesperson confirmed Renault currently has a global campaign that’ll allow affected vehicle owners to get a retrofit free of charge once stock becomes available.

Since late August 2021, Renault has also been replacing the Bose nine-speaker sound system with a Arkamys Auditorium 3D six-speaker sound system on the Captur Intens.

For roughly three months from August 2021, a wireless phone charger wasn’t available on the Captur Zen and Intens. An Ateco spokesperson confirmed this particular missing feature cannot be retrofitted.

The only passenger-focused Renault that hasn’t been affected thus far by the global chip crunch is the Koleos mid-sized SUV, which has been on sale locally in its current form for around six years.

Renault isn’t alone in changing the specification of certain models due to semiconductor shortage. You can read more about which brands and models are currently affected here.

Despite the changes in standard specification, pricing for affected Renault models hasn’t changed since it increased pricing across its entire range from March 1, 2022.