Watch out Tesla, there’s a new fighter on the electric car market.
Daimler AG recently announced the unveiling of the electric version of its flagship Mercedes-Benz S-Class luxury sedan, also dubbed a “Tesla Fighter” by Deutsche Bank. Analysts of the bank has stated that the launch of this full-size luxury EQS sedan “could be a game changer”, not just for Mercedes-Benz, but the car is gearing up to take on other German manufacturers such as BMW and the Volkswagen Group.
Deutsche Bank’s analysts has also commented that the EQS could spark a shift in the public’s perception of Mercedes, from legacy carmaker to luxury electric-vehicle company, “which should be appreciated by investors”. This pivot should also come as no surprise, considering Europe became the world’s largest market for electric vehicles in 2020, thanks to a push in EV adoption as well as severe fines slapped on carmakers who don’t meet new emissions targets. Buyers and car owners have also developed an interest in a combination of hi-innovation and modern luxury, and they are even offered generous incentives if they trade in their own petrol-fuelled vehicles.
Needless to caption this. 💙⚡️ #EQS
— Daimler AG (@Daimler) April 15, 2021
The EQS marks the first electric-vehicle family for Mercedes, and is said to have a range of up to 770km – making it the longest-range BEV on the market, and a fierce competitor for Tesla’s Model S Plaid+, which has an estimated range of 837km. Mercedes has also teased a new “Hyperscreen” measuring about 142cm in width, that will cover almost the entire dashboard, perhaps even following behind Tesla’s pioneering features such as a longer battery range and touchscreen infotainment system.
![](https://firstclasse.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/eqs-interior.jpg)
According to Financial Times, the EQS is slated to go on sale in late summer for Europe and the United States, then in January for China, followed by an all-electric E-Class saloon as well as two sport utility vehicles based on the same platform within two years. However, the official pricing has yet to be unveiled.
Photos: Reuters