Mercedes-Benz EV building blocks clearer

The many moving parts of the future EV model strategy that will make Mercedes Benz a pure-electric brand by 2030 (“where market conditions allow”) are becoming clearer.

After speaking with Mercedes-Benz engineering and product experts at the international launch of the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV recently, carsales can now confirm the multi-platform EV strategy that will be rolled out over the next three to five years.

The bespoke electric architectures will underpin everything from humble commercial vans through to a dedicated Mercedes-AMG electrified supercar.

Mercedes-Benz recently confirmed the launch of three new EV architectures by 2025. They are the so-called MB-EA, AMG-EA and VAN-EA.

In addition to these, there will also be a small to mid-size premium car platform called MMA and a modified version of the G-Class’ ladder frame with full EV infrastructure and running gear.

MB-EA will replace the platform that underpins the recently launched EQS and EQE sedan and the just-debuted EQS SUV. Details of the EQE SUV (pictured) using the same architecture will be made public in mid-October.

MMA will deliver the toolbox from which the next generation of A-, B- and C-Class families are created. AMG-EA will be arguably the most specialised of all and will likely feature AMG-specific axial motors for higher performance.

The secret of the strategy is that not all Mercedes-Benz models will be built on MB-EA or MMA and not all AMGs will feature the bespoke AMG-EV platform.

“There will be some split-ups,” Holger Enzmann, Mercedes-Benz Electric Vehicle Architecture executive, told carsales.

“We consider architectures are more than the body-in-white [chassis]. There is full flexibility across the platforms for the cars to be developed together,” Enzmann explained.

A key change at the smaller end of the Mercedes-Benz portfolio will be the move to a rear/all-wheel drive platform. This will mean A- and C-Class models and their related body types and AMG variants can share key systems and component sets.

It also means that two-wheel drive versions of the next-generation electrified A-Class and B-Class will be rear-wheel drive for the first time.

The first model expected to appear on the MMA architecture in 2025 will be the EQC replacement.

The AMG-EA architecture is expected to be reserved for Affalterbach’s highest performing models – with one exception. The first fully electric Mercedes-Benz SL will almost certainly roll into existence using the tech.

But don’t hold your breath. That car could be as far as six years away.

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