Mercedes-Benz Confirms S-Class EV to Replace EQS After Sales Miss

A Hard Lesson

The Mercedes-Benz EQS is still around, but it’s already safe to say that it has failed to meet market expectations. It was being outsold by the fuel-fed S-Class by a huge margin, and never exceeded 30,000 unit sales worldwide. The EQ model experiment had fallen flat even before it was over.

Mercedes-Benz has since learned from this very expensive lesson. Its latest EV models are integrated within its established vehicles. Prime examples of that include the redesigned CLA and, more recently, the new-generation GLB. Soon, there will be more, including an S-Class EV.

Flagship EV, Take Two

Yes, you heard that right. Mercedes-Benz has unfinished business in that category, and they’re undeterred by the failure of the EQS. It was confirmed by Mercedes development chief Jörg Burzer while speaking to Automobilewoche. Don’t expect it to arrive in a year or two, though, but it will surely replace the EQS.

Mercedes-Benz won’t be making the same mistake twice. The new EV flagship will be part of the S-Class family instead of a separate model. It’s also likely to feature more conventional styling.

S-Class-Based or Different Platform?

It’s still unknown what approach Mercedes-Benz will take for the EV S-Class. That said, there are two ways to go about it. They could either base it on the ICE model and adapt an electric powertrain from it, or build a separate platform for it while still badge it as an S-Class.

If it takes the first approach, it will be similar to what BMW did with the current 7 Series. It’s cost-effective and accelerates development time, but it will require weight and packaging compromises. Building a separate platform is more expensive, but it gives engineers greater flexibility to optimize battery size and interior volume.

Thinning Competition

While we’re glad that Mercedes-Benz is keeping the S-Class around, it’s hard times for the flagship luxury sedan right now. As consumers migrate into SUVs and crossovers, large sedans just aren’t selling as much anymore. Sure, the S-Class’ main rival, the BMW 7 Series is still doing fine, but if you look at the other competition, it paints a pretty grim picture.

Audi doesn’t know what to do with its A8, and its future is in serious doubt. Jaguar is preparing a new EV sedan, but has been out of the game for quite some time already. Lexus has axed the LS, ironic that it’s the car that shook up the segment, and will be turning it into a luxury minivan. The challenge now is to make these cars special in a way that they’ll lure potential buyers out of SUVs and back into a traditional plutocrat sedan.