Watch Out, Tesla: Mercedes Unveils 'Entry-Level' EV Concept Car
With a 466-mile range and an eye on the entry-level market, Mercedes-Benz's new concept car could develop into an affordable EV that eats into Tesla's share of the market.
The Concept CLA Class, which charges 248 miles in just 15 minutes, is a "forerunner for an entirely new all-electric segment of entry-level vehicles at Mercedes-Benz," says Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. "This new model family is inspired by a generation of car buyers who want that unmistakable Mercedes-Benz feel, with more features, even greater comfort and safety and the most advanced technology."
Mercedes did not reveal the price or release date for the new line, which will have four models: A four-door coupe, two SUVs, and a "shooting brake," which is sort of a cross between a sports car and a station wagon, as The Drive explains.
Of the five EVs Mercedes currently offers, the EQB SUV is the cheapest, starting at $52,750 in the US. It competes with the $48,000 Tesla Model Y, another electric SUV and the world's top-selling vehicle. If Mercedes' new line falls within the $40,000-$50,000 range, it could be a serious competitor to both the Model Y and newly refreshed Model 3.
The Concept CLA Class runs on an in-house developed powertrain, dubbed the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA), which reduces the carbon footprint of battery cell production by 40%. Mercedes differentiates itself with a heightened focus on sustainability, which is one reason PCMag rated it the best luxury EV brand of 2023.
"[Drivers] seek a sustainable choice that is a cut above the rest," Källenius says.
"MMA is set to play a major role in accelerating the ramp-up of the Mercedes-Benz electric fleet," says Mercedes. It also enables bi-directional charging,
Read more on pcmag.com
