cars news 10: We Hear: Mercedes-Benz to Introduce Four EVs by 2020

According to Autocar, Mercedes-Benz is plotting four new electric vehicles by the end of the decade. The models will likely include two sedans and two SUVs, all with unique styling elements that make them recognizable as electric vehicles.

The four EVs will “share basic elements of a more conventionally powered sibling, including so-called hard points such as the windscreen and roof structure,” Autocar reports. The new electric sedans are likely to be based around the C-Class and S-Class, while the SUVs will likely take direction from the GLA and GLC small crossovers.

The GLA-based model will adopt a modified version of the MFA platform used on the B-Class, while the other models will use a variant of the MRA architecture specifically intended for EVs. The models should complement an all-new GLC Fuel Cell, which is expected to come out next year.

With these new offerings, Mercedes is looking to compete directly against Tesla, reports Autocar. Meanwhile, Audi already has plans to bring an electric SUV to life in 2018.

The new models should offer a range greater than 250 miles, which outgoing Mercedes R&D boss Thomas Weber says is the minimum needed to make EVs practical for consumers. The automaker is reportedly working on electric motors ranging in output from around 102 hp to 543 hp.

It’s unclear if the U.S. will receive any of these models, which are expected to go into production in Germany. Mercedes’ EV push comes as the German government will start doling out sales subsidies on all electric vehicles priced under 60,000 euros (roughly $66,800 in today’s currency).

Source: Autocar