A modular air-conditioning apparatus for a motor vehicle, preferably for an electrically driven motor vehicle, comprising: a) at least two air-conditioning modules (10a, 10b), which respectively comprise a refrigerant circuit (1a, 1b) having the following components: - a, preferably electrically driven, compressor; - a first heat exchanger (W 1) for exchange of heat with the space outside the vehicle and/or with a component of an electric drive; - a first throttling device; - a second heat exchanger (W 2) for exchange of heat with the space inside the vehicle and/or with a component of an electric drive; and - a valve device, comprising a plurality of valves (5 a -5 d), for controlling a refrigerant flow within the refrigerant circuit (1a, 1b), by means of which the first heat exchanger (W 1) can be connected in a first operating mode M 1, for cooling the space inside the vehicle, upstream and in a second operating mode M 2, for heating the space inside the vehicle, downstream of the second heat exchanger (W 2) in the refrigerant circuit (1a, 1b); and wherein the air-conditioning modules (10a, 10b) respectively comprise a module control device (2a, 2b) for the respective control of the valve device and/or of the compressor; characterized by b) a central control device, which is designed to operate each of the air-conditioning modules (10a, 10b) selectively in the first operating mode M 1 or in the second operating mode M 2 independently of one another. a) at least two air-conditioning modules (10a, 10b), which respectively comprise a refrigerant circuit (1a, 1b) having the following components: - a, preferably electrically driven, compressor; - a first heat exchanger (W 1) for exchange of heat with the space outside the vehicle and/or with a component of an electric drive; - a first throttling device; - a second heat exchanger (W 2) for exchange of heat with the space inside the vehicle and/or with a component of an electric drive; and - a valve device, comprising a plurality of valves (5 a -5 d), for controlling a refrigerant flow within the refrigerant circuit (1a, 1b), by means of which the first heat exchanger (W 1) can be connected in a first operating mode M 1, for cooling the space inside the vehicle, upstream and in a second operating mode M 2, for heating the space inside the vehicle, downstream of the second heat exchanger (W 2) in the refrigerant circuit (1a, 1b); and wherein the air-conditioning modules (10a, 10b) respectively comprise a module control device (2a, 2b) for the respective control of the valve device and/or of the compressor; characterized by - a, preferably electrically driven, compressor; - a first heat exchanger (W 1) for exchange of heat with the space outside the vehicle and/or with a component of an electric drive; - a first throttling device; - a second heat exchanger (W 2) for exchange of heat with the space inside the vehicle and/or with a component of an electric drive; and - a valve device, comprising a plurality of valves (5 a -5 d), for controlling a refrigerant flow within the refrigerant circuit (1a, 1b), by means of which the first heat exchanger (W 1) can be connected in a first operating mode M 1, for cooling the space inside the vehicle, upstream and in a second operating mode M 2, for heating the space inside the vehicle, downstream of the second heat exchanger (W 2) in the refrigerant circuit (1a, 1b); b) a central control device, which is designed to operate each of the air-conditioning modules (10a, 10b) selectively in the first operating mode M 1 or in the second operating mode M 2 independently of one another.