Mercedes-Benz chose to kick off its EQ range globally with the EQC, an all-electric SUV based on the GLC. A smart move considering the world’s insatiable appetite for SUVs. Now though, Mercedes is expanding the EQ range with the EQS, EQE, EQA and the EQB. The first of these to hit the roads will be the EQS, an all-electric version of Mercedes’ flagship luxury sedan — the S-Class. All these vehicles will also be based on a new bespoke scalable architecture, which can be used across the electric lineup.
Mercedes-Benz has stated the EQS is ‘undergoing the last tests on the way to production maturity’. It has already undergone over two million test kilometres at the brand’s facility in Immendingen, winter tests in Scandinavia, public roads, and even the Nardo test track. The EQS should be styled fairly similarly to the S-Class in profile, but expect to see blue touches and a more futuristic approach to the design and it will borrow styling cues from the Vision EQS concept. In terms of numbers, Mercedes is claiming a WLTP-tested range of over 700km, which should make it one of the longest range electric vehicles on the market. Internationally, the EQS will go on sale next year.
In addition to the EQS, there will be the EQS SUV, the EQE and EQE SUV, as well as the EQA which will be an all-electric version of the GLA, and the EQB which will be an all-electric version of the GLB. This should make Mercedes-Benz a major player in the electric vehicle market, with offerings ranging from the entry-level variants, to the ‘S-Class of electric vehicles’. Again, all these models will be based on a brand new architecture.
The reason Mercedes-Benz is pushing hard toward electric, aside from the obvious, is it's ‘Ambition 2039’ plan. In essence, Mercedes wants to move to a completely CO2 neutral range of vehicles by the year 2039. It even aims to have plug-in hybrid and all-electric cars make up half its total sales by 2030.
Mercedes-Benz has already got the EQC to India, and we think more EQ models will only be a bonus for the company. However, that will depend on how well the EQC is received by customers, and if the lack of charging infrastructure will affect sales. But if more people drive electric, it will also force authorities to set up the infrastructure we’ve all been longing for.