Frenetic

If I was the CEO of Mercedes, I would invest billions on a proprietary, ultra fast charging network. Build it and they will come. These dumb ceos are chasing the wrong idea with the jelly bean designs. It has nothing to do with that.

Wolfman

They are not…even close…

Friend recently bought a Model Y Performance. Paid $55k minus $7500. That’s the top of the line Y and model 3’s are cheaper. The way MB’s are optioned you are looking maybe GLA/GLB/CLA territory…

MBS63AMG

Off topic but the same for touring motorcycles. Major decline in guys like me that love to go for a week on a motorcycle ride. My generation is becoming less and less effective on decision making for transportation, shopping, housing, etc.

SW20S

Not for you, but for a lot of people especially younger people. Tesla isn't going anywhere.

For me, I only need the charging network when I travel, the key for daily use is charging at home.

They are actually



https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a4...g-network-evs/

You yourself said in another thread that Mercedes sells way more of those cars globally than they do anything else.

The bottom line is, every luxury carmaker's volume is at the lower end of its model line.

Scoff all you want, but younger people care about tech way more than they care about cars, and luxury doesnt mean to them what it means to us. To many of them they would much rather have a Tesla than a Mercedes. What has really hurt Tesla's brand is Elon Musk...all of a sudden politically its not appealing for these young, liberal people to be seen in a Tesla...

Yep, this is true

MBNUT1

Don't know how you did it but you attributed a post by Wolfman to Chassis.

crabman

I agree with you. Except in this case I agree with you more than you agree with you. Tesla is old news around here. Not so many years ago I passed something like a dozen just driving in from the outer street to my house. That's a bit of a drive because I'm at the top hill in an old established neighborhood so it's not like they're really dense in there but the thing is nowadays, I pass 2, 3, 4ish. These people moved on, most of them to another EV but not all of them. This is Seattle, it's a techy place. Many of my neighbors work at Goog, MS, Facebook, etc. These are the people that bought Tesla before it was cool to buy Tesla.

Tesla is going to get slaughtered on the bottom end unless they up their game, something they show little sign of doing now. On the other end Tesla is only numbered in the luxury market now because of their cost, they're not luxurious and don't compare well. None of my kids want a Tesla, that would be 2 Rivian's and a Polestar. Tesla is yesterday to them, it's Myspace but with cars, it's your parent's EV.

As to muzzling Elon... Politics isn't a place I'm willing to go here but I do agree a muzzle would do wonders.

S_W222

Graph appears to be accurate and matches reported quarterly sales numbers in multiple other sources. I welcome any corrections though, if the reported numbers in that source are incorrect. The numbers also scale well with the published annual sales numbers for both companies: Mbenz sold ~2MM vehicles, Tesla sold 1.3MM vehicles but their sales trends are increasing YoY and quarter to quarter.

As for the fact Model S and X accounting for only 3% of Tesla sales, why does it matter in this context? OP question is about Mbenz in general, as a corporate, (not specifically S-class vs Model S or Model X). Even if we focus on the luxury S-class line, S-class in 2022 also accounted for 4% of Mbenz sales too (For the US market). As @SW20S , the majority of Mbenz vehicles are in the same price range as Model Y and Model 3 (this includes the GLC which is the best Mbenz selling vehicle in the US (65K sold in 2022 in the US). The same applies to the C-class being the best selling Sedan for Mbenz in the US. People and the upcoming generation would rather get a Model 3 that is slightly cheaper than a C-class (not me, but most people apparantly prefer the Model 3 over C-class or BMW 3-series). The reason I highlighted Model S and X in my first comment is that I assume S-class owners would be mostly interested in the Model S and X line if they ever switch. I don’t know the number, but I would not be surprised if Tesla sold more Model S/X cars than the Mbenz S-class and GLS combined (haven’t researched it). Not a Tesla fan, but can’t deny Tesla’s potential (To OP’s point, Mbenz should fear from Tesla).
Tesla’s recent price cut, if anything, will help improving Tesla’s sales number even better. I actually commend Tesla for adjusting their prices.

Crito

Absolutely right IMHO. Tesla isn't just an EV car maker. They're also an EV infrastructure company. You can travel anywhere in the country with 100% certainty there'll be a working supercharger at your disposal when you need it. EA, ChargePoint and EVgo combined can't seem to fulfill this simple need.

I'm going to buy a gas powered Jeep just for road trips because driving my Mercedes EQE cross-county would just be too stressful. Plus the Jeep comes with a spare tire so if I get a blow-out in Death Valley I won't die. I know that's a trivial issue for most automakers and not as important as reducing weight to boost range/consumption numbers but for me not dying because of a flat seems kind of important.

SW20S

I’m really good at screwing things up lol

This is why I can’t yet commit to an EV, when I buy a nice really expensive car I love, I don’t want to have to drive a Jeep on road trips. I don’t love Teslas, so for now I’m still in an ICE.

Streamliner

I have never paid any attention to charging stations, etc. Are Tesla stations for Tesla cars ONLY, or can other brands use them?

MBS63AMG

I have two gasoline vehicles at all times because of how much driving I do due to work. Electric cars will never suit me. I drive sometimes 1500 miles a week. No less than 800 per week.

Frenetic

Conversely, saying that MB chased the wrong Tesla attribute by trying to “jelly bean’ their EV cars, It could easily be said that Teslas could be even more popular if they de-jelly beaned their cars, because I agree, the technology in Teslas is second to none, especially when it comes to features that other automakers won’t adopt. Coupled with their unsurpassed charging infrastructure, there’s nothing to say they can’t take an even more commanding lead with a distinctive yet less bubbly design. I like the Model S, but I’m not a fan of the Y or 3. The X is neat but it looks like a Beluga Whale. However, I would overlook the odd designs because of their charging network and technology. Now imagine not having to overlook anything.

SW20S

Tesla only for now, Tesla has talked about opening them up, and they have opened some in a trial run...

How much do you drive in one day? If you can charge at home one still might work...it would certainly save you money on fuel.

S_W222

Here is the fun and interesting parts: Tesla charging stations work only with Tesla (other vehicles can NOT use it "due to software not allowing it, see next comment", and are limited to other charting stations like Electrify America/ChargePoint/etc )... But, a Tesla vehicle can use all Tesla charging stations as well as any other stations via just an adapter. Big advantage...

SW20S

Other EVs can use Tesla stations with an adapter, the software just won't allow it for now, but they are piloting opening them up

https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/1/23...ent-access-app

If I could charge a non Tesla at Superchargers I would go EV. I travel to southern WV in my car 3-4 times a year and Tesla charging along the route is no problem, but EA etc is a real crapshoot.

If I were to buy an EV today, I would buy an i7

Streamliner

For me, being a “glass half empty” type and a worrier, it would always be the uncertainty that I would get stranded, that the grid would go down, that SOMETHING would happen and I wouldn’t be able to get charged up when I needed it. Perhaps in a few years, when charging stations are more plentiful, it might relieve the anxiety, but not right now. Of course, I currently drive an ICE vehicle and STILL got stranded, so I guess I should just stay home!

SW20S

Haha, that’s true!

crabman

In fairness, if the grid goes down, and you're low on gas you still have a problem that can only be fixed by going far enough to reach a place that has power or waiting for the power to be restored. Your gasoline-powered buttocks are no less screwed if the remaining range is less than the distance to a working refill option.

tx170754

That is is good point, the real question is how often a CE car needs to stop to eventually refuel versus an EV in need to charging it based on the currently available charging stations....

190Efan

Still recycling the same old wronged past customer grievances.

190Efan

Gas powered cars will have the same problem once the planet killing fossil fuel runs out.

190Efan

It's all about aerodynamics. Aerodynamics will be just as important for EVs as they are to maximize gas mileage for ICE powered cars. BTW, Tesla self driving cars are notorious for running into emergency vehicles because they only rely on cameras which is less accurate than the MB setup which uses a combination of cameras and LIDAR. Elon Musk is not an engineer and it shows in the poor technology and the poor build quality of Teslas.

190Efan

There were no gas stations on every corner when the automobile was first invented.

190Efan

My engineer/MIT graduate father was well aware that cars had to stop burning fossil fuel because burning fossil fuel was severely poisoning our planet. Elon Musk is not an engineer and it shows in the poor technology and poor build quality of Tesla cars.

MBS63AMG

LOL. It's not like we can carry a can of electricity with us. BIG QUESTION that I've not had anyone answer that I've seen is how much $$$ does it cost to fill up with premium grade electricity???