High demand for the Q4 e-tron electric crossover reportedly has Audi planning to produce it at a second factory.
Automotive News Europe reports word from a source that the Q4 e-tron will enter production in Audi’s Brussels plant in Belgium alongside its larger e-tron sibling.
Production at this Belgian plant could start as early as November 2022 according to German publication Automobilwoche.
The Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron are currently built at Volkswagen’s Zwickau plant in Germany alongside their fellow MEB-based Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4,and Cupra Born cousins, and production of the Audi would also continue at this plant.
The Volkswagen Group supervisory board will reportedly make the final decision on the Q4 e-tron Brussels production proposal during its meeting on December 9.
This meeting will also discuss the five-year investment plan that was delayed by almost a month in order to counteract electric-vehicle (EV) giant Tesla, which will soon start production at its Gruenheide ‘gigafactory’ near Berlin.
The Audi e-tron SUV has been produced at the Belgian plant since 2018, and the e-tron Sportback since 2020.
These models are going to be indirectly replaced by an all-electric Q8 e-tron flagship according to Audi CEO Markus Duesmann.
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Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback
The existing e-tron and e-tron Sportback electric SUVs are based on an adapted version of Audi’s internal combustion engine MLB architecture.
Locally, the e-tron models are available whereas the Q4 e-tron isn’t.
Although it’s high on the local Audi division’s wishlist, it hasn’t yet confirmed if or when the Q4 e-tron will arrive in Australian showrooms.
“We’re still evaluating and working on it. No confirmation yet,” said Shaun Cleary, Audi Australia’s corporate communications manager.
Four drivetrain variants are offered in other markets: the 35, 40, 45 quattro and 50 quattro.
Power outputs range from 125kW to 220kW, while WLTP range starts at 308km (35 e-tron) and extends to 520km (40 e-tron).
Base 35 e-tron models feature a 55kWh lithium-ion battery pack, whereas other variants get a larger 82kWh unit.
The 35 and 40 e-tron variants have a single electric motor fitted to the rear axle, while quattro versions have a dual-electric motor setup with a second electric motor on the front axle.
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Cupra Born
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Volkswagen ID.4
Spanish Volkswagen subsidiary Cupra has confirmed the related Born hatchback for an Australian launch in late 2022 or early 2023, ahead of the related Skoda Enyaq.
Volkswagen has also flagged the ID.4 SUV as its first all-electric model in Australia, but the launch timing has been delayed until late 2023 at the earliest, along with the ID.3 hatchback.
Also under evaluation for an Australian roll-out are Audi’s ‘TFSI e’ plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains.
In other markets, there are TFSI e variants of the Audi A3, A6, A7, A8, Q3, Q5, Q7 and Q8, but none are currently on track to launch in Australia anytime soon.
Keyword: Audi Q4 e-tron production volume increasing due to demand – report