Strong Aussie demand for Mercedes-Benz EQC

The Mercedes-Benz EQC electric SUV has generated unprecedented interest from potential Australian buyers, even outstripping the local passion for high-performance AMG models.

The first all-electric SUV from a German car-maker made its Australian debut this week ahead of first local deliveries in October, but Mercedes-Benz says anyone placing an order today for an EQC won’t see their car until 2020.

While that’s partially because of tight supply of Benz’s first battery-powered SUV, it also indicates a substantial number of people aren’t being deterred by its “below $150,000” asking price.

Australian pricing and specifications of the Mercedes-Benz EQC won’t be revealed until May, coinciding with the global media launch of the ground-breaking vehicle.

“Back in September when we first showed the vehicles at the world premiere we had more than 3000 people register their interest and we have never had that volume before,” said Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific media and communications chief Jerry Stamoulis.

“We get strong interest for AMG vehicles of course, but people are hungry for information on not only an electric car but a Mercedes-Benz electric car.”

Australia is one of the highest percentage penetration AMG markets in the Benz world, which bodes well for the EQC.

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Stamoulis was speaking to carsales.com.au during a multi-day promotion of the EQC to potential customers and media in Melbourne in the lead-up to the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix at Albert Park.

A pre-production Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 was flown to South Africa for hot-weather testing chaperoned by test program chief Karl Scheible.

It was presented at an event on Tuesday night at the Mercedes me store in Melbourne’s CBD and spent Wednesday taking 100 potential buyers for taster laps at a Port Melbourne kart track.

The car, which is indicative of the single-spec EQC that will be sold in Australia, will go on to be displayed to customers in Sydney and Brisbane.

“This is the first time we have seen the EQC in Australia and we have been lucky enough to secure a car that is also drivable, as there only a handful of them in the world,” said Stamoulis.

He revealed the people who had been taken for ride by Scheible were not who Benz was expecting to register their interest.

“One thing that has surprised us is we were expecting to see a new breed of Mercedes-Benz customers, but they currently have a GLC, or an E-Class, or even an S-Class.

“Sure, there are a percentage of them who are not currently members of the Mercedes-Benz family, but the majority we have spoken to over the last couple of days are currently Mercedes-Benz customers.”

The EQC comes with a twin electric motor all-wheel drive system, a claimed range of up to 450km and an ability to fast-charge its 80kWh lithium-ion battery pack in as little as 40 minutes.

It is part of a steady roll-out of BEVs in the luxury segments. Of course, Tesla has been on the ground paving the way for a couple of years with the Model S and Model X, while the Jaguar I-PACE has been on sale since early 2019, the Audi e-tron arrives in the second half of 2019 and the Porsche Taycan in early 2020.

From there the model roll-out just keeps getting busier. Benz has already revealed the EQA small car and EQV passenger van  concepts, and has also committed to adding electrification to each of its model ranges by 2022.

Out to 2025 Mercedes-Benz has announced an intention to launch 10 EVs internationally. But beyond the EQC, local EV plans have not been confirmed.