Mercedes-Benz has began producing its first all-electric automobile within the US.
The German automaker has commenced collection manufacturing of its flagship EQS SUV at its manufacturing plant in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, the place it’ll be constructed completely.
The EQS SUV has been confirmed for Australia, with the primary autos anticipated to reach within the first half of 2023.
Mercedes-Benz’s Alabama manufacturing facility at the moment produces the Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLS internal-combustion engine SUVs, and can start producing the upcoming electrical EQE SUV “later this yr”.
The German model can also be producing the battery techniques for the EQS SUV on the recently-opened battery manufacturing facility in Bibb County.
The EQS SUV is the third mannequin to be constructed on the devoted Electrical Automobile Structure (EVA), following the EQS liftback and EQE sedan.
The smaller EQE SUV would be the fourth mannequin to be constructed on the EVA, and is ready to be globally revealed on October 16.
Three Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV fashions shall be provided at launch: the EQS 450+, EQS 450 4Matic, and the EQS 580 4Matic.
It’s nonetheless unclear which fashions shall be coming Down Below, with pricing and specs to be introduced at a later date.
Mercedes-AMG variations of the EQS SUV are probably, with a Mercedes-Maybach model probably set to put on the EQS 600 SUV nameplate.
Just like the EQS liftback, all the EQS SUV vary makes use of a 107.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Though the SUV vary has the identical battery because the EQS liftback, the claimed vary for the EQS SUV is decrease throughout the board with a most of 660km vary on the more durable WLTP take a look at cycle, as an alternative of 784km.
The rear-wheel drive EQS 450+ makes use of a single electrical motor producing 265kW of energy and 568Nm of torque.
The mid-range EQS 450 4Matic has a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup with complete system outputs of 265kW and 800Nm, whereas the dual-motor EQS 580 4Matic has complete system outputs of 400kW and 858Nm.
Airmatic air suspension is normal, with adaptive dampers, a four-link axle on the entrance and impartial multi-link suspension on the rear.
All fashions are able to accepting as much as 200kW of energy from an ultra-rapid DC charging station, and the entry-level EQS 450+ is able to including 250km of vary in quarter-hour.
An 11kW onboard AC charger is normal throughout the vary, and a 22kW unit is non-obligatory.
Externally, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV has a really related design to the EQS liftback.
Inside, the resemblance is even larger, with an virtually similar dashboard that will also be optioned with the MBUX Hyperscreen.
Measuring in at 141cm broad, the Hyperscreen includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch central touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch passenger touchscreen in a single pillar-to-pillar housing.
The EQS SUV comes normal with 5 seats, however it may be optioned with a 3rd row boasting two extra seats.
When the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV touches down domestically, it’ll be a part of the EQA, EQB, and EQC all-electric SUVs within the native vary, in addition to the EQS liftback and EQE sedan.
As beforehand reported, the German automaker has introduced that it’ll go all-electric by 2030, wherever market situations enable.
From 2025 Mercedes-Benz will launch three all-electric architectures. The primary platform shall be MB.EA, which is able to underpin all medium to giant autos.
This shall be complemented by AMG.EA for efficiency vehicles, and VAN.EA that may kind the idea for vans and lightweight industrial autos.
Mercedes-Benz will even debut the “electric-first” MMA small automobile platform in 2024.
MORE: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV revealed, confirmed for Oz
