“In the interests of the buyer,” they claim.
German luxury carmaker Audi have revealed that their all-new, groundbreaking electric SUV has been beset by delays due to a software issue. The e-tron Quattro, the very first of the breed, has had to undergo regulatory clearance for some new software that has set the car back by a few months.
It was reported by Bild am Sontag in Germany first that the e-tron (which is slated for European arrival end-2018 and Australian debut in mid-2019) would be facing some delays. But it was Automotive News Europe that discovered that the delay was down to regulatory clearance, meaning that it could have wider implications for global introduction schedules.
Another potential speedbump along the e-tron’s path are its batteries. Audi and LG Chem of South Korea are in the midst of negotiations to lock down a price for the batteries that the latter will supply. It’s said that LG is looking to inflate its prices by a not-inconsiderable 10% due to increasing demand globally. If LG gets its way, Audi (and the larger Volkswagen Group) could have to start adjusting the prices of its all-electric vehicles to reflect the increased cost.
LG Chem also supplies battery packs to the Daimler conglomerate.
Check out our report covering the launch of the Audi e-tron Quattro, easily one of the most technologically-advanced vehicles currently on the market, let alone for Audi. But will this delay soften the intent of the 15,000 pre-order customers who are waiting patiently for their new zero-emission SUV?
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