Drive Wire for September 6th, 2016: Daimler Announces Large Line-up of Electric Vehicles
The premium and performance-oriented e-cars will compete with Tesla, Audi and BMW.
This weekend, Daimler confirmed that it has at least six, and as many as nine, electric car models in the pipeline. That push for a large electrified fleet is part of a plan by Mercedes to go head-to-head with Tesla, maker of the Model S and Model X, as well as Audi, which has its own portfolio of electric cars well under way. In contrast to its current offering, an electric B-Class economy car, many of Mercedes’ future electric vehicles will be premium and performance-oriented.
The range should include an executive sedan, an SUV and even a sporting coupe. While Mercedes has long invested and innovated in the realm of diesel technology, the fallout of the Volkswagen diesel scandal and advances in battery technology mean the brand, along with other German luxury automakers, is turning much of its attention and money towards electric propulsion. In fact, the cars might be launched under a sub-brand, akin to Mercedes’ AMG performance arm and Maybach ultra-luxury division.