Plan would have brand almost entirely EV by 2030
Further announcement expected next week
Mercedes-Benz is gearing up to get rid of most combustion engines by the end of the decade. That’s much sooner than expected and could mean other automakers accelerating their own changes.
Automotive News Europe reports that a high-ranking official familiar with the plan said “we are switching from EV first to EV only.”
That means every model in the line, from A to S, would have a fully electric version by the end of the decade. It means, said the report, that not just internal combustion only models are planned for elimination, but also plug-in hybrid models after 2030.
Daimler won’t get rid of combustion engines entirely, though they will be largely done away with, as some markets will still have demand. Or will still not have sufficient charging infrastructure.
Still, the automaker had previously said that it expected PHEV and EV sales to make up only half of sales by the end of the decade.
The report said that Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius plans to present the revised electrification plan during a strategy day set for July 22. It’s expected that the automaker will announce new EV platforms at the event as well as that it is planning to create its own software operating system for electric vehicles.
Other luxury automakers have also announced EV plans including Jaguar’s goal of all-electric by 2025 and Volvo by 2030. Audi has said it will switch to all EVs early next decade with some market exceptions, while BMW expects half of its vehicle sales to be electric by end of decade.
