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Mercedes-Benz EQ electric vehicle offensive detailed

Mercedes-Benz's EQ electric vehicle division looks set to undergo rapid expansion in the coming years, with the brand this week releasing further details of its plans to launch six all-new models by the end of 2022.


First cab off the metaphorical rank will be the EQS, an all-electric, bespoke-bodied version of Mercedes-Benz's flagship S-Class limousine, due to enter production in the first half of 2021.

New teaser images of a camouflaged prototype reiterate the model – which will be built alongside its combustion-powered sibling at the brand's €730 million Factory 56 facility in Sindelfingen, Germany – will draw significant influence from the Vision EQS concept of 2019, with cab-forward styling, a sloping roofline and a closed front fascia inspired by the EQC and EQV.

 

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Following in the tracks of the flagship EQS will be the Mercedes-Benz EQA (above), a zero-emissions version of the brand's GLA small SUV, which leaked wearing minimal camouflage late last month.

Production of the model is already underway at the German marque's plant in Rastatt, Germany – currently home to production of the petrol- and diesel-fuelled A-Class, GLA and B-Class models – with a full reveal scheduled for January 20, 2021.

It'll also be built for the Chinese market at Mercedes-Benz's factory in Beijing, China, operated under a joint venture with state-owned Chinese carmaker (and parent company of Foton, which once sold the Tunland ute in Australia), BAIC Motor.

Twin under the skin to the EQA is the EQB (below), an electric version of the recently-launched GLB mid-size, segment-straddling SUV, which will enter production in 2021 at both Mercedes' plant in Kecskemét, Hungary (currently home to the CLA) and the aforementioned joint venture facility in Beijing, China.

 

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The second half of 2021 will see the large EQE sedan built at Mercedes-Benz's factory in Bremen, Germany – alongside the C-Class, GLC and EQC – followed closely by production at the Beijing plant.

2022 will mark the start of production of the EQE SUV and EQS SUV (both pictured bottom of story, alongside EQE sedan) – both built on the same EVA modular, electric-only architecture as the EQE sedan – at the three-pointed star brand's American assembly plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Production of the Smart EQ Fortwo and EQ Forfour will continue to take place at Daimler's factories in Hambach, France and Novo Mesto, Slovenia respectively, before moving to China for the micro cars' next generations, which will be designed as part of a joint venture with Chinese conglomerate Geely.

Shifting Fortwo production to China will free up space at Hambach for the site's new owners, Ineos, and its Grenadier four-wheel-drive.

 

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In time, Mercedes-Benz plans to produce batteries for its EQ-badged electric and plug-in hybrid models across three continents and an array of production facilities in various locations; Kamenz (Germany), Jawor (Poland), Beijing (China), Untertürkheim (Germany), Sindelfingen (Germany), Tuscaloosa (United States) and Bangkok (Thailand).

The German brand's upcoming electrified model offensive leads its aim to have all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles make up 50 per cent of its sales by 2030, alongside goals to offer 25 plug-in hybrid variants by 2025 and CO2 neutrality for all of its factories as early as 2022.

Mercedes-Benz is not alone in setting lofty goals around electrified sales, with German luxury rivals Audi and BMW plotting expansive all-electric and hybrid model ranges under its E-Tron and BMW i monikers respectively.

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Alex Misoyannis

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.

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