Mercedes’ ‘Tesla killer’ electric SUV coming in 2019, expected price HK$426,000
German carmaker unveils a prototype of SUV, first of its new EQ brand, at Paris Motor Show and says it plans 10-model ‘electric product offensive’ covering all market segments, from compact to luxury; may build China battery plant
Mercedes-Benz plans to introduce at least 10 battery-powered cars in the coming years and will bundle its electric-vehicle technology, including charging boxes and energy storage, under its new EQ brand to take on Tesla Motors.
Mercedes’ first new all-electric model will be a coupe-like sport utility vehicle that will be available for sale before the end of the decade – it’s expected in 2019 – and will cost about as much as the €49,000 (HK$425,900) GLC coupe. A prototype, which is close to the production version of the sporty SUV, was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show and can drive 500 kilometres on a single charge, compared with as far as 542 kilometres for the Tesla Model X.
“We’re now flipping the switch,” Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche says. “We’re ready for the launch of an electric product offensive that will cover all vehicle segments, from the compact to the luxury class.”
Under the strategy, which is backed by plans to invest €1 billion in battery technology, electric cars would account for as much as 25 per cent of Mercedes deliveries by 2025. The aggressive push marks a departure from Mercedes’ previous approach of offering electric offshoots of existing models, such as with the van-like B-Class. Stand-alone models and a separate nameplate will give Mercedes’ electric vehicles more visibility to better compete with Tesla, in which Mercedes parent Daimler was an early investor.
The turnabout is part of a broader industry shift toward more appealing electric cars as manufacturers scramble to meet ever-tighter emissions standards. The European Union is seeking efficiency improvements in the next five years that would effectively be double the gains made since 2010. Volkswagen, seeking to recover from the emissions scandal, plans to roll out 30 battery-powered vehicles by 2025 and targets sales of as many as 3 million electric cars a year.
