Gross sales of Mercedes EQS luxurious fashions plummet. Very excessive costs, inferior materials high quality in comparison with the S-Class, poorer rear entry, and lack of a really quick charging 800V platform are the target causes. Present Mercedes CEO Ola Kallenius was head of e-mobility growth earlier than being appointed to the highest place as head of growth and later CEO. What choices does Kallenius have?
Mercedes has had a very completely different technique than BMW when it comes to creating luxurious electrical fashions, choosing a devoted electrical platform, whereas the BMW i7/i5 is predicated on the standard CLAR platform that additionally underpins the standard 7 Collection/5 Collection fashions.
Basically, a devoted electrical platform has a number of clear benefits: higher aerodynamics with direct implications on vitality consumption, higher use of inside area because of a shorter entrance finish (no entrance ICE engine taking on lots of area), and a simplification within the manufacturing course of because it has fewer parts.
What has Mercedes achieved? Within the case of the Mercedes EQS, the EVA II platform has exploited solely a part of the benefits supplied by the devoted electrical structure: an excellent Cx of solely 0.20 translated into respectable vitality consumption, even at motorway speeds, however much less inside area within the rear than within the S-Class.
The place did Mercedes go flawed?Materials high quality is inferior to the S-Class, and within the luxurious section, this issues so much, particularly in Europe. Additionally, the Chinese language clientele is irritated that entry and knee room within the rear of the EQS are poorer than within the S-Class.
Rich Chinese language don’t need to bump their heads after they get within the automobile and need to stretch their legs out within the rear with out hitting the entrance seats with their knees. So, who was liable for the EQS’s physique form? Primarily, design chief Gorden Wagener, however he’s not the one one who selected the ultimate form. Prior to now, Wagener has made compromises relating to rooflines and you’ll see the GLE or GLC Coupe the place performance took precedence over design. Ultimately, the final phrase belonged to Kallenius.
Electrical program with lots of issues
Kallenius can’t boast too many accomplishments throughout his time as head of e-mobility and deciding Mercedes’ electrical mannequin program. Constructed on a blended platform with components from the GLC, the Mercedes EQC was outdated when it comes to vary, battery expertise, and charging velocity when it got here in the marketplace, the EQA and EQB are nothing greater than an electrical adaptation of the GLA/GLB and the EQS which prices over 100,000 euros makes use of a 400V platform.
By comparability, the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5/6 have 800V platforms with a lot quicker charging speeds and bi-directional charging. Renault for instance, cooperates with Google and makes use of Google Automotive which routinely shows real-time charging station choices when the battery drops beneath 20% and tells you want BMW what share of the battery you’ll attain your vacation spot with.The Porsche Taycan, which is in the identical value vary because the EQS, additionally has an 800V platform and a rear engine mated to a two-speed gearbox.
Final however not least, the design of the EQS can also be criticized. On his Instagram account the place he has over 500,000 followers, Wagener is ridiculed by members who examine the design of the EQS to quantity manufacturers. The EQS lacks the distinctive styling of a premium product just like the S-Class.
Not least, the brand new MMA platform that may underpin future electrical compact fashions is extra fashionable than the EQS, utilizing 800V expertise. But it surely additionally doesn’t have bi-directional charging, Google automotive, or uncommon earth-free motors like BMW’s. Mercedes brags about lowering uncommon earth content material, nevertheless it hasn’t been utterly eradicated.
Plans to vary the rear design
Mercedes has arrange a job power making an attempt to repair the EQS design flaws. It’s making an attempt to change the rear-end design, however it isn’t simple. Nevertheless, the modifications are obligatory as a result of we’re speaking in regards to the survival of the mannequin. As well as, shareholder criticism of Ola Kallenius, who was in control of the electrical mannequin program earlier than being elected CEO, is mounting.
At this time, Mercedes’ success is as a result of C-Class, GLC, E-Class, and the AMG variations with standard engines. Mercedes insists in its gross sales press releases on the success of electrical fashions. 1,529,800 models had been offered within the first 9 months of 2023, of which solely 160,300 had been electrical, 10% of the entire. Of these, solely 26,300 had been EQS and EQS SUVs, whereas the S-Class, not counting the GLS, the standard equal of the EQS SUV, is promoting thrice higher regardless of an 18% drop within the third quarter of 2023.
In the identical, in line with investigation led by Automobilwoche , simply 1,100 models of the EQS had been offered within the USA within the third quarter of 2023, a lower of 55 % in comparison with the earlier quarter, whereas the S-Class gross sales elevated by 47 % to three,890 models.
German auto motor und sport journal studies that Mercedes is making an attempt to persuade those that qualify for an organization automobile to go for an electrical automobile. It’s a good technique within the brief time period, nevertheless it gained’t safe the German model’s electrified future.
