Why Has Mercedes Dropped The EQS?
The move to axe the EQS comes in favor of an electric S-class, but wasn’t the unique BEV the point anyway?
We are certainly in some very strange times in the automotive field as of late. The past two years have seen a fervor of sorts to switch to EV cars. Mercedes stuck their flag in the ground with the EQ lineup of cars, the EQS being the top dog. But now according to Motor1, the EQS is being dropped. Why?
Electric vehicles are steadily catching on in some respects, but definitely not the EQS. Year to date, sales are down by half. While some may say that’s a sign of the current economic conditions, well, they are right but they are also not. Mercedes also doesn’t differentiate the difference between the EQS sedan, SUV and Maybach variants in its sales figures. This is interesting because they are different chassis, with the sedan receiving V297 designation and SUV noted as X296.
S-class sales are down, too. Not to the degree of the EQS, but fairly close to it. Meanwhile the EQB has nearly doubled in sales. Mercedes have shifted almost an additional 1,500 units in this year’s Q2 compares to 2023. Folks are definitely warming up to the idea of an EV Benz, perhaps with tighter pockets than initially planned. Interestingly, the EQS and its variants have outsold the S-class by a slim margin.
But back to the S-class. Like many manufacturers, Mercedes is now giving folks the option of which propulsion method they’d like to have for their ride. So instead of an entirely separate EV sub brand, Mercedes will have an available electric S-class. For now, they will remain on separate platforms as it just makes sense to use existing architecture and hardware from the V297 and W223 chassis before a “unified” architecture is implemented in 2030.
The problem here for Mercedes is two-fold. Weaker demand has hit two key segments. Luxury models and EV models. Wrap the two together, and something needs to be done. More and more manufacturers are now walking back plans of an all-electric future lineup, so a merged flagship model seems rather appropriate.
Photos courtesy of Motor1
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