Mercedes-Benz has already confirmed it’s working on electric C-Class, GLC and S-Class models. Now we can add the E-Class to the list.
“By launching all-new electric GLC and C-Class models, Mercedes-Benz will close a gap in its electric core segment. An all-new fully electric E-Class will round out the picture,” the company said in a press release detailing its strategy.
This follows a mention of Mercedes-Benz planning launches for “dozens of new or refreshed models” between now and 2027, suggesting the E-Class with EQ Technology isn’t far off.
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Current E-Class
About that suffix: Mercedes-Benz is phasing out the EQ- prefix from its EVs, with electric vehicles (EVs) to instead adopt the ‘with EQ Technology’ suffix – as seen on the new electric G-Class – and plug-in hybrids gaining the “with EQ Hybrid technology” tag.
“We are strengthening our traditional class logic and will no longer use ‘EQ’ in model nomenclature for new vehicles,” a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson told Automotive News.
Mercedes-Benz will continue to use dedicated EV platforms for some of its EVs, however it has confirmed that “going forward a coherent design language will be used across the entire platform”.
It’s unclear what this means for the current EQE, which entered production in 2022 as an electric alternative to the E-Class.
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EQE
A Mercedes-Benz spokesperson told Automotive News it was “too early to share more information about our future model lineup, for strategic reasons”.
In stark contrast to the BMW 5 Series and i5, the E-Class and EQE couldn’t look any more different. In addition to riding different platforms, they feature completely different exterior styling with the EQE characterised by a much more rounded body.
Mercedes-Benz sold 11,660 EQEs in the US last year, 12,391 in Europe, and 162 in Australia, declines of 39 per cent, 21 per cent and 62.3 per cent, respectively.
However, it still managed to outsell the BMW i5 in both the US and Australia.
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E-Class -
EQE
Mercedes-Benz isn’t the only European luxury brand rejigging its naming strategy.
Audi’s upcoming combustion-powered A6 replacement will still be called A6, instead of being renamed to A7 as had previously been planned.
It’ll be sold alongside the new electric A6 e-tron, which is underpinned by a different platform and features different styling.
This means the new E-Class with EQ Technology will battle the A6 e-tron and i5, leaving the E-Class to take on the 5 Series and A6.
The current E-Class entered production in 2023, and depending on the market is offered with petrol, diesel and plug-n hybrid powertrains.
