There will be cleaning in the Mercedes range. Indeed, to finance research and development concerning the electric car, the manufacturer plans to sort out its range, thus reducing the number of models from 33 to only 14 over the next few years. Estate cars, coupés and convertibles would almost all be scrapped.
Several months ago, Mercedes presented its long-term strategy, particularly for its electric cars, but also for its entire range which, in any case, will gradually switch to all-electric with the exception of a few products.
With this new strategy, Mercedes will aim to be more profitable, more upscale, but Mercedes had not necessarily explained how it was going to go through. Today, everything seems clearer, since the starred manufacturer will operate a sacred management in its range. Completed the sprawling range aimed at occupying every corner of the market, at Mercedes, we will now focus on the most profitable products.
A range that will shrink to a trickle
As our colleagues from Car and Driverout of the 33 silhouettes that today make up the range in Europe and the United States, there will only be 14 left in the next few years. And who will be the main victims? Coupes, convertibles and station wagons, namely the models with the lowest sales volumes today.
“At the end of the day, we just don’t need station wagons or underperforming coupe models to drive volumes up”a member of the Mercedes-Benz strategy team told Car and Driver. “The most essential elements of sustainable contemporary luxury cars are space and time… This is our number one priority – not another fancy body style, a model that only works in Europe, or a last stunt of sword in the water on a dying segment. »
Generally speaking, that’s what it looks like from the Mercedes EQ range today. Mercedes only offers sedans, compacts and SUVs, which tend to be very high-end for their segment. Coupes, station wagons and convertibles have no place. Thus, “pleasure” oriented models will gradually disappear, or be rationalized. For example, the C-Class and E-Class coupes and convertibles will only be one model in a few months with the future Mercedes CLE, but which will not be electric.
Towards increasingly efficient electric models
Breaks should disappear by the end of the decade at Mercedes. Will there still be a 100% electric alternative? Perhaps, especially since not everyone has abandoned this segment, Volvo, for example, intends to launch electric station wagons after SUVs and sedans.
The money saved for the development of these less profitable models will be redistributed for research and development of the electrical part. Thus, Mercedes should put a hell of a boost in terms of engineering.
We are already talking large batteries up to 150 kWhfour-digit electric motor powers, in particular for the Mercedes-AMG range which is also electrifying, more than 800 km of autonomy for certain models or even a new 800 volt architecture with a charging capacity of 270 kW.
With the approval of its level 3 autonomous driving in the State of Nevada and California, Mercedes becomes the first manufacturer to be able to use this technology on the roads of the United States. Thus, the German brand…
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