Mercedes Begins Production Of Its Electric Vehicle
The EQS, according to Mercedes-Benz, is a younger sister of the newly redesigned high-end S-class, which is traditionally regarded as the brand's most luxury vehicle. However, the somewhat shorter car, which Mercedes has teased in ads, has its own electric architecture.
The Mercedes Benz EQS is set to face off against hybrid vehicles such as the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan. It will be available as a 2022 standard, and although a starting price is yet to be revealed, Edmunds recently predicted a starting price of $110,000.
While the EQS will lack the signature engine roar associated with high-performance gas-powered versions, it will still produce considerable power, albeit from a quiet electric motor.
The EQS 450+ with 329 horsepower and the EQS 580 4MATIC with 516 horsepower, each with a maximum speed of 130 miles per hour, will be the first models offered in the United States. Performance of up to 630 horsepower will be included in a potential variant of the sedan.
The EQS is part of the company's strategy to move more than half of its shipments to electric drive systems "as soon as 2030" and make the entire fleet "carbon-free" within 20 years. Other automakers, such as General Motors, Jaguar, and Volvo, have also announced gas engine phase-out dates. Tesla has also made the switch to all-electric vehicles.
In January, Mercedes unveiled the Hyperscreen at the virtual Consumer Electronics Show. The car features the technology, a 56-inch-wide touchscreen display with an infotainment system, and a digital instrument cluster that nearly stretches the width of the vehicle.
It's the first Mercedes car to support over-the-air firmware updates, a Tesla-popularized feature that helps manufacturers to upgrade or repair features of their cars without requiring owners to visit dealerships.
The electric sedan is expected to arrive in dealerships in the United States in the first half of 2021.
