It could easily become Audi’s best-selling electric vehicle, but the German carmaker is still unable to confirm an arrival date for its Q4 e-tron mid-size SUV.
Audi’s new Australian managing director, Jeff Mannering, explained that a combination of extremely high global demand and a lack of more stringent emissions regulations in Australia was keeping the highly anticipated EV from our shores for the time being.
“Of course we’d love the Q4,” he told CarsGuide at the launch of e-tron GT. “We like to say Australia is half a step behind the rest of of the world when it comes to emissions policy. Even New Zealand has that car because roughly a year and a half ago they changed their stance around CO2 emissions for corporations.”
Peter Strudwicke, the product manager for roughly half of Audi’s model range, also explained that output was maxed out from the factory that builds the Q4, largely due to overwhelming demand in Europe.
This is despite its sister company Volkswagen explaining that some slots were starting to free up for production of the related ID.4 SUV due to high energy prices in Europe putting a dent in demand, and freeing up some space to get fully electric models to Australia ahead of schedule.
VW also told CarsGuide late in 2022 that conversations in Canberra were “starting to move in the right direction” when it came to emissions policy and meaningful assistance to customers when it comes to investment in the charging network and other incentives for EV owners.
Despite the ID.4 and the Q4 e-tron being near identical under the skin though, the amount of demand and the size of production was different for the two brands.
“We have to leave Volkswagen to Volkswagen” said Matt Dale, Audi Australia’s chief product manager, “Global demand for EVs is just so high, the talk with the dealers [in Australia] at the moment is unbelievable. The conversations they are having is all about battery electric vehicles. When are they coming? What can they get? It’s not necessarily to buy a vehicle right now, but to inquire about that next purchase.”
Speaking to CarsGuide at previous events though, the brand’s representatives indicated the Q4 was still as far out as 2024, with Mr Mannering explaining “If I had a wish, I would love it to be here for early 2024, and that’s what we’re pushing for, but I cannot confirm it at this stage.”
The Q4 is based on the same MEB platform that underpins other Volkswagen Group products like the VW ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq SUVs, and the VW ID.3 and Cupra Born hatchbacks. Currently the Q4 e-tron is built in Zweickau, Germany, or in Foshan, China as part of a joint-venture.
Internationally it is available as a single-motor rear-wheel drive producing up to 150kW/310Nm and 520km of driving range in either 35 or 40 trim levels, or as a quattro all-wheel drive with up to 220kW/460Nm and 485km of driving range available in either 45 or 50 trim levels. Like the Q3 and Q5, it is offered with either an SUV or Sportback coupe body style.
Currently Audi’s fully electric line-up consists of the e-tron SUV, which is set to be re-named to the Q8 e-tron at its next overhaul, and the just-launched e-tron GT sports sedan. The brand will also expand into a range of plug-in hybrid variants of its existing line-up in the future, a process which has also been delayed by the lack of incentives in Australia and limited stock available out of Europe.
Keyword: Still no Q4 e-tron! Despite 'unbelievable' demand, Audi's fully electric mid-sizer is too globally popular