A brand-new video from Mercedes-Benz asks motorists if they’re “ready to change” and provides a small look of exactly what to anticipate when its long-gestating plug-in electrical SUV idea automobile reaches the Paris Motor Show on September 29.
Anticipated to be named the EQG and to mark the launch of a new EQ Mercedes-Benz sub-brand, the car is high on futuristic designing and fluorescent state of mind lighting. Although the video gives small substance to the company’s assertions that the car is genuinely revolutionary, it does verify that the show car will have a minimalistic yet elegant cabin that follows present interior design language and the same percentages externally as the automaker’s existing flagship GLS SUV.
Although Mercedes dabbled electrification in the past (it sells an electrical B-Class MPV and this month presented the latest generation of its electric SMART cars), the company is making a declaration of intent with this show automobile: it takes plug-in electrical cars seriously and it intends to be more Tesla than Tesla before this decade.
As per the most recent Jato Dynamics figures, electrical and hybrid automobile popularity is growing rapidly. Over the first half of 2016, 231,300 plug-in electrical or plug-in hybrid vehicles were sold across Europe– that’s a 27% boost year on year– and suggests that together they now represent 3% of the present European vehicle market. If growth continues at this rate, then they will represent 12-14% of brand-new vehicle sales by the end of the decade, which is the moment when Mercedes will be planning to actually release its electrical car offensive.
And to create as much interest and excitement as possible it should come as no surprise that Mercedes opted for an SUV.
One in 3 Mercedes offered worldwide is now of the SUV or crossover range. During the first 6 months of 2016, there was about 22% spike in C-segment SUV sales in Europe, involving models like the Audi Q3, implying they now represent 10% of the market. Full-size SUVs have likewise experienced a 16% rise in appeal in the very first 6 months of this year. Automobiles like the Jeep Cherokee, Toyota Land Cruiser and Mercedes GLC represent 1% of the market or 106,000 sales.
Mercedes won’t have all of it its own way at this year’s event. Volkswagen will also be using the event to reveal its next-generation EV concept and like Mercedes, Volkswagen is asserting its vehicle will introduce a transformation and that it will have the ability to cover 400 miles in one charge.
