Electric progress attacks! Mercedes-Benz abandons hybrid models
After 2025, Daimler AG will only develop electrical platforms. The new EV-only strategy envisions a transition to electric vehicles by the end of this decade. But according to Ola Källenius, CEO of the Group, this will happen only in those countries where the market is ready for such a step.
Yes, Mercedes-Benz is ready to switch to electric vehicles, but a complete abandonment of internal combustion engines is not yet discussed. Therefore, there is no need to panic. However, the development of new hybrid systems has actually been discontinued, which was announced by Markus Schafer, Daimler board member responsible for research and development, at the IAA exhibition in Munich. Hybrids are a ‘temporary solution with no prospects, so the company is going to focus on full-fledged electric vehicles’.
But even that shouldn’t be frustrating. Mercedes-Benz hybrids will not disappear immediately and forever, because a lot of money has been invested in their development and production. Today, sales of mild hybrid vehicles with internal combustion engines significantly exceed the demand for electric EQ Mercedes cars. And there aren’t that many of those (yet) by the end of next year, Mercedes will have just eight electric models. And the demand for them, to put it mildly, is much lower (and the price is higher!). Although, by 2025, the company plans to increase the share of electrified cars (albeit including hybrids) in the sales structure to 50%.
At the same exhibition in Munich, the manufacturer introduced the new Mercedes AMG GT 63 S E Performance with a powertrain that consists of a petrol engine and an electric module on the rear axle. This is the most powerful model in the range of the German manufacturer and a hybrid. The liftback accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and is capable of accelerating to 316 km/h. In the electric mode, this hybrid car can drive 12 km and reach speeds of up to 130 km/h. Moreover, we were promised that such a system would later appear on other AMG models. So don’t worry! Hybrid models will remain in service for a long time. But new projects will no longer appear.
Let us clarify once again: Daimler is not yet discussing the complete abandonment of cars with internal combustion engines, it does not even indicate the release date of the ‘latest model’. However, after 2025, the Group will develop only electrical platforms and at the same time will present three universal architectures for different market segments. The MB.EA platform will form the basis of mid-size and large passenger cars, the AMG.EA is addressed to sports models, and the VAN.EA architecture is being prepared for light commercial models.
