MERCEDES-BENZ has been relatively quiet in the EV space. While the EQC has been coming on stream recently – and quite impressively according to Fleet Procure at number three in the procurement platform’s top-selling models – and there has been plenty of PHEV model choice, the EV game has been a range of one.
Until now.
Mercedes is launching an onslaught of new EV models, including the new EQS pictured above, and what’s more, has provided dates for their production.
So what EVs can we expect from Mercedes-Benz?
By 2022, the company says, there will be eight all-electric EQ models as Mercedes-Benz targets leadership in electric drives and vehicle software. These are:
- EQA (A-Class size) to launch January 2021
- EQB (B-Class size) to follow in 2021
- EQS electric luxury saloon (S-Class size) H1 2021
- EQE saloon (E-Class size) H2 2021
- EQE SUV (GLE size) 2022
- EQS SUV (GLS size) 2022
Along with the existing EQC and the EQV minibus, that will be a total of eight electric models by 2022, in addition to the plug-in and hybrid range of cars the firm produces.
Mercedes board member for production, Jörg Burzer, said:
The Mercedes-EQ production network is ready for our electric offensive. We started this transformation several years ago and set up our plants with maximum flexibility. The Mercedes-EQ electric models are gradually being integrated into our existing vehicle plants worldwide. They come off the same lines as vehicles with combustion engines or plug-in hybrid drives. The same applies to all of our Mercedes-Benz car plants – a total of six on three continents. This concept is particularly advantageous because demand for electric and electrified vehicles is developing very differently by region and we can adjust our production planning accordingly on short notice. In this way we can manufacture exactly what our customers want.
Ralph Morton is the leading journalist in the leasing broker sector and editor of Broker News, the website which provides information and news for BVRLA-registered leasing brokers. He also writes extensively on the fleet and leasing market in both the UK and Europe.
