---
title: "Mercedes Boss Says They’re Not Ready to Quit V8s Yet"
date: "2022-09-12"
modified: "2022-09-12"
authors:
  - name: "Stef Schrader"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/stef-schrader"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/mercedes-boss-says-theyre-not-ready-to-quit-v8s-yet"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "Mercedes-Benz News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "luxury"
  - "Mercedes-Benz"
  - "sports car"
---

# Mercedes Boss Says They’re Not Ready to Quit V8s Yet

![Mercedes-AMG SL Roadster V8](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/12/v8-sl_970x546.jpg>)
*\<em\>Mercedes-Benz\</em\>*

Mercedes-Benz may have previously announced its intention to go [all-electric](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/41648/mercedes-amg-maybach-all-going-electric-by-2030>) by 2030, but it sounds like AMG isn't quite ready for that yet. Mercedes-Benz's vice president for vehicle development, Joerg Bartels, told [*CarSales*](<https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/mercedes-amg-v8-to-continue-beyond-2030-137419/>) that the company is open to keeping its [V8s](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/42903/2022-mercedes-amg-sl-beautiful-v8-roadsters-arent-dead>) around past 2030 if it's what buyers want—particularly in hot AMGs.

“In the end it has to fulfill our overall CO2 strategy, and we have a clear path on that one: being CO2 neutral at the end of the ’30s, by 2039. And from 2030 we just want to be pure electric,” Bartels told *CarSales*. “But if there’s still a customer demand \[for gasoline-powered V8s\] in some regions, and it’s still part of our offering, why should we stop it?”

![V8-powered AMG G 63](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/12/love-to-see-it-v8-gelaendewagen_970x546.jpg>)
*Mercedes-Benz*

Mercedes' 2030 EV announcement always came with a "where market conditions allow" caveat, and it certainly sounds like the market demands more high-performance AMG V8s. Bartels told *CarSales* regulations will dictate where and how long they'll still offer a V8, but as it sits, the demand makes keeping the V8s around worth it.

Bartels says that European regulations may make keeping V8s around there tough starting in the mid-2020s, but the final Euro 7 emissions regulations haven't been finalized yet, and he's not giving up hope so easily. Plus, other markets—hello, America—tend to be more lenient.

This tracks with other statements made by Mercedes-AMG higher-ups as well. Mercedes-AMG head Philipp Schiemer said just last year that the V8 has [at least 10 more years](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/42488/mercedes-amg-head-says-v8s-have-another-10-years-for-sure>) left, which already pushed things out to 2031.

Other companies like Porsche are investing in synthetic fuels to try and keep internal combustion engines around longer, but Bartels says it's a non-starter for Mercedes so far.

So, expect AMG to keep offering those lovely V8s—so long as customers are willing to pay for the gasoline and emissions regulations allow it.

*Got a tip? Contact the author: stef@thedrive.com*

## Author
Stef Schrader is a former senior staff writer for The Drive. She started writing about cars in 2013 after meeting Jalopnik's editor-in-chief at a race track, where Stef can be found at every available opportunity.

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