Mercedes-Benz goes EV crazy with seven new models

MERCEDES-Benz has revealed its immediate electric vehicle (EV) plans for the next few years, confirming that no less than seven all-electric EQ variants will be entering production by the end of next year.

Underpinned by an all-new modular architecture, all seven EVs will ride on the same platform with dimensions including length, width, wheelbase and track all able to be altered to match their respective internal combustion engined relatives along with different battery pack sizes and capacities.

The first to hit the assembly line will be the EQS, an all-electric version of the S-Class family which will also serve as the muse for the new platform.

Fittingly for an S-Class relative, Mercedes-Benz says the EQS will boast an effective range of up to 700km on the WLTP cycle and will feature the same advanced version and features of the new S-Class’ MBUX system.

According to Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle architecture vice-president Christoph Starzynski, the EQS has clocked up more than two million kilometres of testing in some of the harshest environments around the world.

“The EQS has already piled up far more than two million test kilometres from the heat of South Africa to the cold of Northern Sweden,” he said.

“The EQS will be the S-Class of electric vehicles. That is why it is undergoing the same demanding development program as any other vehicle that has the privilege of proudly bearing the three-pointed star.

“In addition, there were quite a few tests specifically for electric cars that cover important development priorities such as range, charging and efficiency”.

Also in the pipeline is the smaller – but still large car-sized – EQE sedan which as the name suggests, is the electric spin-off of the E-Class.

Both the EQS and EQE will spawn their own SUV variants, complementing the already existing EQC SUV and serving as the much bigger brothers to the also confirmed EQA and EQB compact twins, the former of which is due to go into production by the end of the year.

An all-electric EQV people carrier has also been confirmed as going into development but in the meantime, it will be the EQS that hits showrooms first with Mercedes-Benz confirming a 2021 “introduction”.

While the new EQ family will lead the charge for the brand’s all-electric expansion and provide BEV alternatives to its existing line-up, Mercedes-Benz has stipulated that the electrification/hybridisation of its “most successful” mainstream models will continue well into the future.

Mercedes-Benz Australia Pacific would not be drawn into revealing any specific timing or which variants in particular it has its eye on, but did say it was excited about the “continuing development and growth of the EQ product portfolio” and always considers “every option available”.

The local arm has sold 89 examples of the current EQC so far this year ending September, accounting for 0.4 per cent of the $60,000-plus medium SUV segment.