Posted on 02/23/2024 7:25:53 AM PST by Red Badger
The company initially planned to be all-EV by 2030, but it said today that EVs will make up 50% of its sales by the end of the decade.
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There’s no longer an expiry date on Mercedes-Benz combustion engines. Due to the recent trends of slower-than-expected demand for EVs, the German automaker is recalibrating its EV transition pace, cutting down the number of electric models it expects to sell by 2030 in half, the brand announced today in an investor statement.
Earlier, Mercedes-Benz had pledged to go fully electric by 2030, and permanently consign its combustion engines to the history books by then. But it now plans to continue selling ICE cars well into the next decade. It has halved its EV goals, and pure electric models and hybrids will account for up to 50% of its sales by 2030.
“Unexpected developments may arise in particular from geopolitical events and trade policy,” Mercedes-Benz said in the statement. “Further supply chain disruptions and in particular, availability bottlenecks for critical components, remain a significant risk factor,” it added.
However, the brand would remain “strategically focused” and “tactically flexible,” as it awaits for demand to catch up, charging infrastructure to mature, and the supply chain to streamline. Following the latest development, the carmaker's stock price went up 5.9% and was also supported by a $3.3 billion share buyback program late on Wednesday.
Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen an EV on-slaught from the German automaker in Europe. Even in the U.S., Mercedes-Benz now offers six pure electric models, including the EQB SUV, EQE and EQS sedans and SUVs, and the opulent EQS SUV Maybach. It also sold a record number of EVs in 2023.
Even though Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius has pledged for his company to go fully electric, he has also stated that the internal combustion engine would die a natural death and that Mercedes-Benz wouldn’t transition “artificially.” In a nutshell, Mercedes-Benz ICE cars would continue to exist as long as customers want them.
How the carmaker plans to continue developing its electrified powertrains would be worth keeping an eye on. Reports emerged in August 2023 of Mercedes-Benz developing its M252 engine to function as a range-extender—a set-up where the engine works as a generator to charge the EV’s battery and functions independently from the electric motors that actually drive the wheels.
The Ramcharger, some Geely models in China like the Galaxy L7 SUV, as well as the BMW i3 and Chevy Volt are range extenders. The technology improves the EV’s overall driving range by reducing reliance on the battery alone, providing increased flexibility, and eliminating range anxiety for drivers. But the caveat is it still needs fossil fuels for power, which is quite contradictory to what the EV and climate movement is all about.
Next-generation Mercedes EVs are expected to ride on the Modular Mercedes Architecture (MMA), which would be designed for EVs and ICE cars as well. The production version of the new CLA, whatever it will be called in its final form, will be the first model to ride on the MMA followed by the next GLA and GLB models.
“Further supply chain disruptions and in particular, availability bottlenecks for critical components, remain a significant risk factor,”
Is electricity to charge batteries a “critical component”?
Dodge recently showcased A charger, I believe, that was an EV with a Generator powered by a 3.3L v6... and a 33 gallon tank.
Hybrid utilizes both electric and an engine, sometimes at the same time. this is an EV that charges itself, because the entire drivetrain is electric.
Ah, the euphemisms we see today: recalibrating, pivoting, headwinds, issue (meaning problem), tactically flexible, ...
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Remains to be seen. I was Mercedes Benz to the core since I was old enough to ride shotgun with my Dad in his 1963 220S. A brilliant company with an unmatched history and a testament to top of the line engineering. All what was once great was f*ked up and cast asunder by new age management with their visions of electric vehicle nonsense and computerizing everything that doesn't need to be computerized.
Yes I'm bitter. FUMB and FUBMW while I'm on the subject. Dennis Prager is right. He opined - Whatever the Germans do, do the opposite and you'll usually be correct. Sadly true in this day and age.
This is the only EV I have ever considered buying:
https://eridepros.com/product/pro-ss-19/
139 pound E bike that does 60 MPH.
I watched a YouTube video recently of a guy zipping around on this “bike”.
You do not need a motorcycle license. At this point, I do not think they need to be registered because it is a “bike”.
It goes faster than any 50CC moped/scooter. In fact it has more torque than most 250CC motor cross motorcycles. All for under $5K right out of the box.
Russia and muslim markets for German vehicles
Hybrids have used the gasoline engine to charge the battery since they came out years ago. In addition to regenerative braking and motor generators in the front wheels that charge the battery when coasting.
So, it’s an EV. But it has a v-6? And a 33 gallon gas tank. But it’s an EV. Ok then.......
It’s a plug in hybrid.
They made EVs but no one came to buy them ,LOL
The Starbuck mom niche is filled.
If you play ‘Car Poker’, you’ll always get ‘4 of a kind’ in the Starbucks line..................
Yeah, I hear you. I’ll amend my statement to: “...decides to stay in business a bit longer.” My father was born in Italy, I’ve been all over Europe interacting with peeps in various countries, my brother worked in Europe for years. Germans and Belgians seem prone to brain-lock, once they get on something, it’s hard to get them to adjust or change. Belgians can’t drive either, really bad news. Dad said Italians were the best drivers in the world because, “Anyone that can drive like that and not be a wreck every block is a great driver”!
They should have left the damn thing in the driveway as close to the street as possible. lol That was a hard lesson to learn. They’ll probably sue the dealership.
Thanks for sharing.
No prob.
I wonder who she called.....auto owners insurance carrier or homeowners........of course 1st call is to a very good attorney.
The nextdoor neighbor with the flagpole is classic.
That’s right.
I read somewhere that some insurance companies are refusing to even give quotes for EVs.
Death Trap. I would have loved it at age 18. How I survived 4 motorcycles, each one faster than the one before I’ll never know.
I’ll watch it again....thanks.
Yeah, we can guess what he was thinking as he kept glancing over with that expression on his face. “Fools” “I warned them about those damned cars” “I’ll keep my Buick”. LOL
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