The Audi Q4 E-tron The small electric SUV is no closer to Australian showrooms, although it’s already available in neighboring New Zealand.

According to the latest estimates, Audi’s smallest electric SUV will not arrive in Australia until 2024 at the earliest.

Audi Australia boss Jeff Mannering said drive The launch of the Audi E-Tron GT electric sedan last month prioritized production of the Q4 E-Tron electric SUV for countries with strict emissions regulations and tax-funded EV incentives.

“I would love the Q4 here. I think all of our dealers would love Q4,” said Mr. Mannering drive.

“Right now I can’t tell you what the realistic time is. I can tell you it won’t be 2023 even if they have started construction at best [Q4s for Australia] until October, it still won’t be here this year. Because the global demand for the car… and the available production volume, the cars are still shifting to the markets (with strict emission regulations).

“Australia is probably half a step behind the rest of the world as a market,” he said. “If Australia wants to be globally competitive in all sustainability discussions, they need to start thinking about such issues in order to be able to encourage manufacturers and customers to buy (electric vehicles).

“[Australia’s] GDP is fueled by fossil fuels, selling coal and so on. So, from the Australian government’s perspective, I can understand why they are … half a step behind.”

Sales of the Audi Q4 E-Tron nearly doubled in 2022 abroad – up 99.4 percent – compared to 2021, the model’s first year on sale.

While Australia continues to await what could be the brand’s best-selling electric vehicle – and in doing so, it faces off against the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Mercedes-Benz EQB and Volvo XC40 Recharge – New Zealand has already started taking orders for the Audi Q4 E. Tron.

New Zealand recently introduced a Clean Car Rebate Scheme, which incentivizes the purchase of low-emission vehicles with government rebates while imposing higher tariffs on high-emission vehicles such as B. double cabins.

New Zealand deliveries of the right-hand drive Audi Q4 E-Tron are scheduled to begin in the next few months.