- Benz’s decision is, in part, based on dismal sales of Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-tron.
- Also in the mix, buyers’ continued doubts on range, high prices, and unknown reliability.
- The Mercedes-Benz EQC is one of 10 EVs to be launched by M-Benz by 2022.
Daimler has recently decided to ice the launch date of their all-new Mercedes-Benz EQC full-electric SUV. It was expected in only a few months but launching a new and expensive electric luxury SUV in a segment where only the Model X is thriving gave Benz cold feet. Both the Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-tron are monumental sales flops.
The latter are both priced starting at $90,000 and while it’s a huge sum, it’s still $25,000 less than a base Tesla Model X. In the US, Jaguar has sold 2,418 I-Pace, and Audi has delivered only 4,623 e-tron SUVs, through November. In contrast, Tesla has sold an estimated 15,000 Model X up to September. Up until August of 2019, only 279 Jaguar I-Pace found new homes in Canada.
One has to wonder what’s really in the Tesla cool-aid and how is it that EV buyers are willing to shell out six figures for a car that is essentially eight years old or an SUV that is five years old. In the luxury-car business, if a product is without notable updates after two years, interest and sales may drop precipitously. Not so with Tesla.
Because of these dismal numbers, Mercedes-Benz will thaw the EQC electric SUV for a year, to be launched in early 2021.
Source: LA Times
Jaguar I-PACE Global Drive | Photo: Jaguar
