Mercedes-Benz announces plans to go all electric

By the end of the decade, Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to go all electric, where market conditions allow.

Mercedes-Benz is planning to have battery electric vehicles (BEV) in all segments of the company by 2022. From 2025 onwards, all newly launched vehicle architectures will be electric-only, with customers having the option to choose an all-electric alternative for every model the company makes.

Ola Källenius, CEO of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, said “The EV shift is picking up speed – especially in the luxury segment, where Mercedes-Benz belongs. The tipping point is getting closer and we will be ready as markets switch to electric only by the end of this decade. This step marks a profound reallocation of capital. By managing this faster transformation while safeguarding our profitability targets, we will ensue the enduring success of Mercedes-Benz. Thanks to our highly qualified and motivated workforce, I am convinced that we will be successful in this exciting new era.”

Thanks to early investments in flexible manufacturing, Mercedes-Benz can already mass produce BEVs. By next year, eight Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles will be produced at seven locations globally.

To help facilitate with this shift, Mercedes-Benz is releasing a comprehensive plan which includes significantly accelerating R&D. In total, over £40 billion will be invested into electric vehicles between 2022 and 2030.

Other points within this plan include:

• Installing battery cell capacity of more than 200 Gigawatt hours with partners
• New partnerships to be formed for the development and production of battery cells in Europe
• Enhancement of the efficiency of electric drivetrains through vertical integration and the acquisition of YASA, a specialist in ultra-high performance axial flux motors
• Acceleration of electrification ramp-up marks a radical shift in capital allocation

Mercedes-Benz are also working on setting a new standard for charging. “Plug and Charge” will allow customers to plug-in, charge and unplug without any additional steps required for authentication or payment processing. It is planned for this to go live with the market launch later this year.

Photograph: Mercedes-Benz