For those that didn't read my initial post, I ordered an S4 on a PCH deal on 23 April, and I am still waiting for a confirmed build week. The only thing I have right now is the dealership saying that the 'system' is telling them delivery will be mid-August. To be fair that's fine by me, but after 1 Sep it gets a bit difficult for me. Well what I didn't say was I'm in an even worse situation with my Missus' car (VW T Roc) which we ordered a week before mine. What was supposed to be a mid-August delivery as well, is now a build week 40 and Nov delivery earliest :-(. We have all suspected (knew if we were honest with ourselves) WLTP was behind the delays, but I have been clinging on to the hope the S4 will turn up on time....and then I read this extract from Fleet News. Safe to say I have been bombarding Audi and VW customer services with emails, and from tomorrow the phone calls start!!!
extract from 'Fleet News'....
New test proving a challenge to manufacturers
Manufacturers are facing an uphill task to get all new cars approved under the new WLTP test ahead of September, when it will apply to all new cars. The new drive-cycle, which will replace the NEDC test, is divided into four parts with different average speeds: low, medium, high and extra high. Each part contains a variety of driving phases, stops, acceleration and braking.
Experts estimate the new test cycle takes manufacturers twice as long to complete compared to the NEDC test, plus they will have to test ‘worse’ and ‘best’ case scenario vehicles in each trim before using a formula to determine the impact of optional extras.
Furthermore, the WLTP test includes an on-the-road element – the Real Driving Emissions (RDE) test – adding another level of complexity. An Audi spokesman told Fleet News that the risk is “cars won’t be cleared in time”. “It won’t be whether we can make them or not, it’s whether we can approve them or not,” he said. Other manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz and BMW, have also acknowledged that the new testing regime is a challenge. Martin Ward, manufacturer relationship manager at Cap HPI, said: “Manufacturers are struggling to get their cars re-homologated with WLTP; I know some manufacturers have had the dates for testing put back by a few weeks.”
The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) says the challenge is not just the new vehicles people are certifying as product updates, they also have to get every vehicle they are selling – even if it was certified a couple of years ago – re-tested to get WLTP figures. Andy Eastlake, managing director of the LowCVP, said: “They have a huge task to meet universal WLTP data for September this year and universal RDE data by September 2019.” In terms of test centres across the EU, the WLTP footprint is broadly similar to the NEDC one. Eastlake said: “I do know, however, that all the UK facilities are fully utilised and booked right through to September so it is probably fair to say that there is a capacity issue. “Given where we are now, I think it is a genuine concern over whether products can be certified in time.”
