The first Mercedes-Benz EQC has rolled off Daimler’s assembly line in Bremen, Germany. Known officially as the Mercedes-Benz EQC400 4MATIC, this the first fully electric SUV produced by the German automaker. It is based off the concept SUV which was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 2016.
The EQC is said to have a 0-60 time of 4.9 seconds. This SUV is powered by a set of two electric motors on each axle capable of producing up to 402 horsepower. It’s top speed is electronically limited to 112 mph.
“With the EQC – the first fully electric SUV from Mercedes-Benz – we are flipping the switch. Electric drive is a major component in the mobility of the future. We are therefore investing more than ten billion euros in the expansion of our EQ model portfolio, and more than one billion euros in global battery production,” said Dieter Zetsche,Chairman of Daimler AG and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Cars.
The company currently has plans to release additional products in its fully electric mobility line, “EQ”. Mercedes already produces hybrid (dubbed EQ Boost) and plug-in hybrid (EQ Power) versions of some of its sedans and SUVs.
Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Sales was enthusiastic about the product launch:
“With the Mercedes-Benz EQC, we are entering a new era of mobility. It is part of the growing family of all-electric vehicles at Mercedes-Benz and combines brand-defining features such as quality, safety and comfort. We offer our customers progressive design and unique ride comfort – and this with a range absolutely suitable for everyday use.”
The Mercedes EQC is described by the company as having a “seamless, clean design, and color highlights typical of the brand – it is a pioneer for an avant-garde look while representing the design idiom, “Progressive Luxury”.
This new Daimler SUV is capable of traveling up to 291 miles (471 km) on a single charge. The company describes it as “making electric mobility convenient and suitable for everyday use.”
In the press release announcing the production of the EQC, Mercedes-Benz goes on to say:
“With its effortlessly superior driving impression, high level of acoustic comfort and exciting driving dynamics, the EQC displays all the brand’s hallmark attributes – the Mercedes of electric vehicles.”
The EQC starts at around $78,806. The base trim is well appointed, though additional upgrades are also possible. With a base price in Euros of €71,281, the EQC qualifies for an environmental bonus if purchased in Germany.
In the United States, the EQC would be eligible for a U.S. tax credit of $7,500. As of November 2014, 37 states and Washington, D.C. have established incentives and tax exemptions for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), or utility-rate breaks, and other non-monetary incentives such as free parking and high-occupancy vehicle lane access.
The first Mercedes EQCs will be produced exclusively at the company’s production facility in Bremen, Germany. In the near future the company also plans to expand EQ production in Beijing, (China), Rastatt (Germany), Sindelfingen (Germany), Tuscaloosa (USA), and Hambach (France). The wholly owned Daimler subsidiary Accumotive produces batteries for all Daimler EQC vehicles.
Markus Schäfer, Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain said:
“Flexibility and efficiency are decisive pillars of the strategy in our global production network at Mercedes-Benz Cars. Production of the EQC is perfect proof of this. The staff in Bremen have many years of experience in the production of vehicles with a wide range of drive types. We are building on this know-how in the electric age, too. With the start of production of the Mercedes-Benz EQC, we are turning the switch today – for the electric mobility of the future.”