Mercedes-EQ, EQS at the Untertürkheim/Hedelfingen battery factory, undergoing final preparations for the production of battery systems. Photo: Daimler
Mercedes-Benz has made it clear recently that they’re setting their sights on a zero-emissions future. And with a slew of vehicle announcements to come, the company is finally laying down its future electric vehicle (EV) roadmap as a traditional automaker.
In a press release, Daimler AG announced new updates to its EV plans Monday, including the release of up to six Mercedes-EQ EVs by 2022. The launch will begin with the zero-emissions luxury sedan EQS model, set for release in the first half of 2021.
Der VISION EQS zeigt sich nicht nur von außen futuristisch, auch das Interieur bietet einen atemberaubenden Ausblick auf ein Konzept eines vollelektrischen Fahrzeugs der Luxusklasse. ✨#MercedesBenz #EQS #VisionEQS pic.twitter.com/aEOczrf8cu
— Mercedes-Benz Deutschland (@MercedesBenz_DE) December 14, 2020
Shortly following the release of the EQS, Mercedes-Benz plans to begin producing the compact SUV EQA model, with production launching in 2021, as well as a second compact SUV, the EQB.
All of the aforementioned models will primarily begin production at the company’s Beijing factory, though the company plans to also produce its SUVs out of its Tuscaloosa plant in the United States by 2022.
Markus Schäfer, Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG board member said, “With its ‘Electric First’ strategy, Mercedes-Benz is consistently on the path to CO₂ neutrality and is investing heavily in transformation.”
He continued, “Our vehicle portfolio becomes electric and thus also our global production network with vehicle and battery factories. We intend to lead in the field of e-mobility and focus in particular on battery technology. We are taking a comprehensive approach, ranging from research and development to production, and also including strategic cooperation.”
The German automaker referred to the announcement as a “major Mercedes-EQ model offensive,” hinting the company is ready to compete in the EV space with the likes of Tesla, which is currently constructing a new Gigafactory in Berlin.
With other petroleum-fueled car manufacturing giants having yet to make any EV announcements this robust, Mercedes-Benz is continuing to place itself in direct competition with Tesla, while solidifying its place in the future of the zero-emissions transportation world. Other brands just might not be so lucky.
