Mercedes-Benz Changes Design Strategy, Electric and Gas Cars Will Look Similar

• Current electric Mercedes models feature a different, more aerodynamic design than their combustion counterparts.

• Future models will also share more components across powertrains to reduce production costs.

• The company also says its next generation of vans won’t be electric only after all.

It’s no secret that Mercedes-Benz hasn’t had the success it hoped for with its electric lineup, with sales remaining far behind those of gasoline models.

Part of the explanation might be related to the design of these electric vehicles, which are quite different from their gasoline-powered counterparts.

Indeed, Mercedes-Benz chose to make its electric models stand out from the rest of its lineup by giving them a more aerodynamic, “jelly-bean” design and a proprietary naming structure (EQB, EQE, EQS…).

While this might have attracted buyers who want to make a statement by driving an EV, it seems to have pushed away those who liked the brand’s traditional design attributes.

As a comparison, BMW is having a better time with its own electric vehicles which, for the most part, look quite similar, if not almost identical, to equivalent gas-powered models.

Mercedes-Benz seems to have understood the message, since it now says it will make its future models share the same design language, irrespective of their powertrain. We also know that the EQ names will be retired, but we don’t have more details about nomenclature at the moment.

This should bring more cohesion into the brand’s lineup, and hopefully help the sales of both electric and gas models, the latter of which will include more and more hybrids.

The first example of this is the new G-Class, which looks almost the same when ordered with the combustion engine or the electric powertrain. Notably, the electric model is called “G 580 with EQ Technology” rather than the expected “EQG”

In addition to design, infotainment and other technologies will also be shared across the board in a bid to reduce manufacturing costs by 10% by 2027.

Despite their similar looks, upcoming electric and hybrid Mercedes-Benz models won’t always share the same platform, as will be the case with the next C-Class and GLC, the EVs using the new MB.EA dedicated electric platform and the hybrid versions being based on the current MRA platform.

This news comes on the heels of another significant U-Turn made by the German automaker, which will now continue to sell combustion-powered vans after having said all of its future commercial models would be electric.

Source: Motor Authority