All car companies go to the electromobilization of different paths and at different speeds. The Daimler strategy, Mercedes-Benz maternal company, which I would compare with the Norwegian strategy - to use a hydrocarbon component for gradual upgrades. Like Norway, which continues to extract and sell oil, while spending the received income on the transformation of the energy and transport sectors within the country, the same strategy also adheres to Daimler, based on the application of the Director General of Ola Callenius, given to them in an interview with Financial Times - "Models with Internal combustion engine, because they serve as an ATM to finance future electric vehicles ... "
The German concern goes along the way to a fully electric future of his brand, but the company needs time and money for complete transformation, and they are currently selling fossil-fuel cars. Daimler declares that all new models will be designed "first of all on electricity." That is, the design and production of new electric vehicles goes through the sale of existing DVS models. Good sensible policy for the old and famous brand.
Ola Callenius: "Our business for the production of cars with internal combustion engines is extremely stable and brings cash flows that we invest in the future. I think that it is too early to finally talk about how the market will look like in 2030, but our task is to find a way out of this market. The deadlines for the full transition to electric vehicles depend not only on automakers and customers, but also from regulatory requirements, charging infrastructure and spread environmentally friendly energy sources.
Here we can say that Daimler, though it shows a conservative approach that in the style of the brand itself, but customers have already made their choice, judging by the explosive sales growth in Europe Volkswagen ID.3, Tesla Model 3, and dozens of other electrical brands and models. The regulatory requirements of the European Commission, and up to the legislative bodies of cities, in relation to gasoline and diesel transport only tightened, some countries have already announced the "point of no return" to the DVS in the area from 2030 to 2040, depending on the country. Infrastructure development can be observed almost online on the interactive map of the Plugshare application. Also in generation, where there is a gradual refusal to coal generation, in favor of gas and renewable energy. Ola Callenius just said, in fact, banal and understandable things. In addition, the company earlier and so stated that 2039-2040 will become the border, after which, under the three-legged Mercedes-Benz star, only electric vehicles will be produced. Judging by the previous statements, on the cut-off of 2030, Mercedes-Benz wants to achieve equal profitability from its new electric vehicles and still remain in the production of engineering models. After reaching the cost parity, there will be no reason to adhere to the internal combustion engine, claim some faces from the governing links in the company.
Mercedes-Benz, as mentioned above, conservatively, slowly, but still absolutely clearly comes to complete electrification. The company did not "touch" existing classes and models, but removed the electric vehicles into a new EQ family, which is filled with new models. For Europe, this is a Mercedes-Benz EQC crossover, for the United States the first new Mercedes electric car will be the high-class EQS crossover, the production of which will begin in Alabama next year. The EQS model will also have a sedan version. Long-term and strategic contracts for the supply of battery elements from the Chinese CATL are concluded.
EQC has become even more attractive - a new basic model, a new sports version.
Meanwhile, Mercedes expands the model range of its new electric vehicles and displays the sports version of the EQC 400 4Matic crossover. Its combined power consumption is 21.5 kW * h / 100 km. It is, depending on the configuration, in the area from 58 to 73 thousand euros. Like all models of the EQC series, new models have a powerful side charger at 11 kW. And of course, that in principle characterizes Mercedes-Benz, this is the exceptional accuracy and quality of components and finishes, both outside and in the interior of the cabin.
Recall that once daimler owned approximately 9% of TESLA shares. And they sold her package in 2014. I imagine how today the elbows are biting those who then accepted this decision. Tesla has supplied the transmission components for the electric vehicle Mercedes B250E for some time.
Even earlier, in the 90s of the last century, Mercedes-Benz tested electric cars and charging from solar panels, conducting tests on one of the islands in the Baltic Sea. So the electric vehicle for Mercedes-Benz is not something new and amazing. Just for a huge and status company, this is a longer and difficult process than for new startups, which was at the beginning of Tesla.