Meanwhile, at least half of the dealership’s EQS sedan sales went to new Mercedes buyers. “We’re seeing a lot of Tesla buyers,” Focht said.
The EQE will be the second made-in-America Mercedes electric crossover. Output begins this year at Mercedes’ plant in Vance, Ala. — one of seven EV production sites on three continents. The Alabama factory could deliver more than 100,000 EVs next year, or about a third of its annual capacity of 305,000.
The EQE crossover is based on the same EVA2 platform as the brand’s larger full-electric offerings, the EQS sedan and SUV, and the EQE sedan, which was launched this year.
The single-motor rear-wheel-drive EQE 350+ and dual-motor EQE 350 4MATIC deliver 288 hp. The more powerful EQE 500 4MATIC variant pumps out 536 hp.
The crossover is powered by a 90.6- kilowatt-hour battery. Driving range estimates were not disclosed.
A heat pump boosts battery efficiency, using waste heat from the inverter, electric motor and high-voltage battery to heat the interior.
The EQE crossover’s four-link front suspension and a multilink independent rear suspension deliver improved ride comfort and handling, Mercedes said. To increase ground clearance, the crossover can rise up to 1 inch. Available rear-axle steering delivers compact sedan-like maneuverability.
