When it comes to electrification, Mercedes has some catching up to do with competitors, said Richard Hilgert, Morningstar senior equity analyst. Mercedes has not “spent as early on the technology as the other manufacturers did, and they got the ball rolling a little bit slower,” he said.
The AMG nameplate, known for its throaty V-6 and V-8 engines, is expected to receive an electric variant next year.
Targeting the AMG line for electrification could give Mercedes the biggest bang for its buck in reducing overall fleet emissions.
“These vehicles are usually the ones that have lower fuel economy because they have larger-displacement engines in them,” Hilgert said.
Advances in battery and e-motor technology mean EVs are no longer a compromise.
“An electric powertrain produces a nice boost in low-end torque,” Hilgert said. “For AMG, that means pretty good acceleration performance, and for G that means good towing performance.”
Mercedes expects to launch an all- electric Maybach in “about three years or so, maybe a little shorter,” Källenius said. The automaker has expanded the lineup, with an SUV coming later this year.
