PARIS MOTOR SHOW: Benz eyes electric cars for Oz

Mercedes-Benz Australia (MBAu) is considering an electric future Down Under. Though no firm plans are on the table, the company says it is considering the addition of EV models to its local offerings – maybe even the 1000Nm, 552kW Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive . . .

The German marque has applied the 'Electric Drive' moniker to its battery electric production vehicles. At this week's Paris Motor Show it debuted two Electric Drive models, the abovementioned AMG SLS (commonly referred to as the SLS e-cell to date) and a battery version of the new-generation B-Class compact MPV. Both vehicles are full production versions, with the AMG now officially on sale.

MBAu spokesperson David McCarthy told motoring.com.au that the company is actively considering the addition of Electric Drive models to its lineup, but cautioned that plans for right-hand drive production of both the SLS Electric Drive and battery B-Class were not in place.

Mr. McCarthy said he was confident that "two or three" Australian buyers could be found for a right-hand drive version of the SLS Electric Drive, despite a price tag that is likely to top $1.0m by the time it landed in Australia.

"There have been no formal discussions. [But] The [right-hand drive] markets have discussed the concept of a right-hook SLS Electric Drive. It's conceivable that a case could be built for us to place a number – perhaps 20 – in markets like Australia, Great Britain, Japan and Hong Kong," he told motoring.com.au.

Priced at around 420,000 Euros in Germany, the car would likely reach seven figures, via Australian charges and taxes, by the time it reached local dealers.

"It would gain the 7.0L/100km exemption [from the first increment of luxury car tax], but I couldn't see it arriving under $1.0m," Mr. McCarthy quipped.

The B-Class Electric Drive unveiled in Paris and due to go on sale in 2014 offers strong performance thanks to outputs of 100kW and 310Nm. It promises a range of more than 200km, says Mercedes-Benz.

But although it offers more hope for Australian EV fans, it is still far from a local certainty, says Mr. McCarthy

"A case can be made much more easily to build the B-Class [Electric Drive] in right-hand drive. The car is very close to the [IC] production version. But these [Electric Drive] models are cars people have to want to 'buy', without the right [government] incentives, they are hard to 'sell'," he says.

Thus, the first Electric Drive product likely to arrive Down Under will not be a Mercedes, but an EV version of the next generation smart, says Mr. McCarthy.

"We'd like to debut something like the smart Brabus Electric Drive in Australia, but the most likely EV [to arrive in Aussie MB dealers] is the [standard] smart fortwo Electric Drive.

"It's still borderline, as the pricing would start with a three [i.e. over $30,000], but if we can keep the premium [over a standard petrol smart] to less than 50 per cent, then I think we have a show," Mr. McCarthy said.

Read more Paris Motor Show stories at motoring.com.au

See all the photos from the Paris Motor Show at motoring.com.au

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