Audi to replace heat pumps with resistive heaters in the Q4 e-tron

Since February, the heat pumps in the new all-electric Audi Q4 e-tron SUV have been replaced by resistive heaters. The move from the German carmaker came as a response to the difficulties posed by the shortage of semiconductors. 

Although the model was launched in North America in December 2021, sales were severely limited because of the shortage. In the United States, the waiting time for a new unit can be between 12 and 18 months.

Audi warned its buyers about this change via email, and new buyers will receive a $1,000 credit for the replacement. The company also says this change is for an "indeterminate period." Still, Audi has assured potential buyers that the new heaters are just as good as the original and the efficiency of heat pumps is diminished at higher speeds or lower temperatures. Also, the company says this change won't affect the vehicle's range, which is 380 km, according to estimates from Natural Resources Canada.

Audi has been struggling to keep sales numbers up after the COVID pandemic. Unlike Tesla, which invested in manufacturing its own parts, Audi suffered from a shortage of several crucial components. Tesla T Models sold over 250,000 vehicles in the U.S. last year; the Q4 e-tron sold only 1,872 units in the same period. 

See Audi's Newest Vehicle Inventory