Mercedes is now beginning the phasing out of the electric cars called EQ. At the same time, the Germans continue to invest in the internal combustion engine.
Mercedes chief executive Ola Källenius says the brand must keep investing in the internal combustion engine.
He tells that in a new interview for Autocar .
At the same time, it is now certain that the Germans will begin phasing out the electric EQ models, which must give way to the more traditional model names in Mercedes' model range.
As an example of Mercedes' new approach, Källenius points to the next S-Class, which will arrive at dealers in late 2028.
– If you don't believe the market is 100% electric at that time, you have to choose between both.
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– We must be able to offer the electric and the high-tech, electrified internal combustion engine without compromising.
– The only solution that we believe is viable in that scenario is that you have two platforms. The space advantages in an electric car are obvious. But if you put a combustion engine in an electric car, you sacrifice space that you really don't want to lose.
– For more than 100 years, we have worked to perfect the internal combustion engine, says the Mercedes director.
He admits that there is a risk involved in investing in the development of two such different platforms. But if Mercedes does it right, the director also believes that the costs can be controlled, and 'that this is what we are trying to do', as he says.
Mercedes is not alone in keeping the internal combustion engine. Most recently, Volvo has announced that it is scrapping the plan to only build electric cars by 2030 at the latest.
Other car brands will not put any word or date on a possible phasing out of the internal combustion engine. This applies, for example, at BMW.
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