Mercedes-Benz just recently presented its strategy update for the future. This sees the launch of a US$47 billion plan that will see the German brand going to go all-electric by the end of the decade!
And yes, it’s the latest move by an iconic automaker to accelerate its transition to plug-in electric cars. The new strategy from MB is an expansion of its ‘Electric First’ strategy presented just last October, as now it’s definitely ‘All Electric’ for the brand. The company has now confirmed the launch of four new electric vehicles based on its Electric Vehicle Architecture (EVA), including the EQS, EQE, EQS SUV and EQE SUV. The AMG, Maybach and G-Class sub-brands will also go electric.
But the brand with that iconic three-pointed star emblem has also provided some wiggle room in this ambitious goal of transforming from EV-first to EV-only, noting that it will be “ready to go all-electric by the end of the decade, where markets allow.” This could mean that some combustion engine Mercedes, which are already equipped with 48-volt mild hybrid systems, will be produced and sold beyond the decade.
The Mercedes-Benz VISION EQS, presented by Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.
“We have a very clear plan to rapidly scale up on the BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle); we want to get on this journey to a BEV only world,” Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG CEO Ola Källenius said during the announcement. “We want to be the people that make that happen, not just let it happen for us and go with the flow, but really taking initiative. And we believe also that the luxury segment, where we belong, has all the hallmarks of being a leading segment for this transition.”
The company has already taken some action, announcing also that it acquired U.K.-based electric motor company YASA, and has determined it will need a battery capacity of more than 200-gigawatt hours. To hit meet those needs, Mercedes plans to set up eight battery factories with existing partners and one new partner to produce cells.
The new plants, which includes one in the United States, four in Europe and three in China, is on top of the company’s already planned network of nine factories that will be dedicated to producing 200GWh cells.
MB says it will produce dedicated platforms for mainstream passenger cars, AMG performance battery cars, battery-electric light commercial vehicles ensuring that all of its new models are plug-and-charge capable from 2022 onward. Essentially, what Mercedes has done now is that it has taken control of its EV future!
But best of all, the brand not only wants to make EVs but also wants to work with others to improve the global electric vehicle infrastructure. It’s even partnering with the likes of petrol head brand Shell that will provide a reliable and already established network to house fast charging systems for EVs.
