Mercedes-Benz has halted the production of its first fully electric SUV, the EQC, abroad. This vehicle marked Mercedes’ first major step into the electric car world, but due to some challenges and competition, its production has been discontinued. Here are the details…
Mercedes-Benz EQC Will No Longer Be Produced Abroad
The Mercedes-Benz EQC was first introduced in 2016 under the name Concept EQ and went into production in 2019. This electric vehicle was Mercedes’ first mainstream electric car and the brand’s first fully electric SUV. However, the EQC was hurriedly prepared and based on the fuel-powered GLC model instead of a fully electric vehicle platform, leading to some critical compromises.
The EQC had a range of 255 miles (approximately 410 kilometers), a somewhat cramped interior, and weighed around two and a half tons. These features caused the EQC to lose its competitive edge as new rivals entered the market. When it was launched in 2019, its main competitors were the Audi e-tron (now known as the Q8 e-tron), Jaguar I-Pace (soon to be discontinued), and Tesla Model X.
Mercedes announced its sales figures for 2024. The company, which is experiencing a decline in electric car sales, may turn to internal combustion engines.
However, Mercedes-Benz is now developing a new generation EQC using the entirely new MMA platform. This new model will offer larger batteries, smarter electric systems, and a longer range. However, since Mercedes plans to change its “EQ” naming strategy, the official name of this new model is yet to be determined.
What do you think? Did Mercedes make the right decision with this move? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
