Mercedes-Benz to expand EV line with six new models

Mercedes-Benz will expand with the EQS, EQE and EQS SUV (above). Photos: Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz has announced that it’s adding to its EV line up with six new vehicles including a EQE sedan, plus EQS and EQE SUVs. 

In the compact class, production of the EQA, the fully electric brother of the GLA, will start later this year, followed by the EQB in 2021.

Mercedes confirmed the new EVs in an investor conference and have been conceived around the German manufacturer's dedicated Electric Vehicle Architecture (EVA).

The wheelbase and track as well as all other system components, especially the batteries, are variable due to the modular design.

The EQS will allow customers in the luxury segment to fully benefit from all the advantages of an all-electric architecture with respect to space and design. With ranges of up to 700km (according to WLTP), the EQS meets the requirements on a progressive sedan in the S-Class segment. 

Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, at the virtual on-line investor and analyst conference.

Mercedes also confirmed a new dedicated electric car platform for compact and medium-sized models, called the MMA, will go into production in 2025.

It also confirmed that it would create a new sub-brand out of its iconic G-Class SUV. 

“The demand for the G is ahead of current capacity,” it said, adding: “The legend will grow.”

Mercedes-Benz CEO, Ola Källenius, said plans for the electrification of AMG performance models will begin in 2021 with the luxury Maybach line-up doubling in size. The company announced that all three of its sub-brands - AMG, Maybach and G - “will go electric”. 

A prototype electric car, the Vision EQXX, is being developed with claims of having the 'longest electric range' and 'highest efficiency' of any EV yet produced with the presentation suggesting it will be capable of travelling the 1200km from Beijing to Shanghai on one charge.

Mercedes-Benz also announced at the investor conference that cost cutting and efficiency gains will help lower the company's break-even point. Manual gearboxes will be dropped as an option, and the variety of combustion engines on offer will be cut by 70 perc ent by 2030.

Luxury cars will also take less time to build. The new Mercedes S-Class takes 25 percent less time to assemble compared to the predecessor generation vehicle.