Mercedes-Benz said Thursday that the latest version of its latest sedan will be available as an all-electric vehicle first and then a hybrid. And the company will no longer sell vehicles that are exclusively for gasoline.
This is a big break from how Mercedes and other established automakers usually operate. Until recently, most automakers have adapted vehicles designed to have fossil fuels mounted with batteries. The Mercedes Sedan, the CLA that the company announced in Rome, is an example of how at least some established automakers can first develop electric vehicles and then adapt to customers who need gasoline engines.
The first CLA of more than two dozen Mercedes vehicles using the same basic technology is a sign that many global automakers are putting priorities on electric vehicles, despite US Republicans trying to roll back Biden-era laws aimed at promoting battery technology.
However, in the face of uncertain demand for electric vehicles and unpredictable government policies, Mercedes is mitigating bets by offering a hybrid that combines traditional gasoline engines with relatively small batteries and electric motors.
“If the world is not dominant electricity by 2030, we cannot leave the key parts of our revenue as Mercedes-Benz, as well as established manufacturers,” Mercedes CEO Ora Karenius said in an interview in Rome. “Indeed, you can call it a hedge.”
Mercedes did not disclose prices for the new CLA, but said it would be affordable for owners of the current version, which starts at $45,000 in the US. Ultimately, some components of the car are used in sports utility vehicles and station wagons.
The company first decided to introduce an all-electric CLA in its belief that advances in technology are addressing reasons for reluctant to buy electric vehicles, including inadequate driving ranges between fees and refueling times.
“We've been working on everything in every CLA,” said Markus Schäfer, a member of the Mercedes Management Committee, which is in charge of technology, in a meeting with reporters.
Some versions of the CLA can travel almost 500 miles between fees. With a high voltage charger, you can add more than 200 miles in 10 minutes. The hybrid version gets most of the power from the gasoline engine, but can travel short distances with battery power only.
The US, where cars will be available at the end of the year, is important for Mercedes, which produces sports utility vehicles in Alabama. However, China, where electrical and plug-in hybrid vehicles account for more than half of new car sales, is the world's largest automotive market and is increasingly setting the tone of the industry.
Like almost all foreign automakers, Mercedes sales declined in China as customers switched to electric vehicles built by domestic manufacturers such as BYD.
According to research firm Rho Motion, sales of electric vehicles, which rose 35% in China in January and February, were in January and February of the previous year. This is comparable to a 20% increase in Europe and a 20% increase in the US and Canada. The illustration includes a plug-in hybrid vehicle.
Sales growth in the US has skyrocketed this year as people are buying electric vehicles but can collect tax credits of up to $7,500.
The new CLA shows that automakers are rapidly advancing with battery technology. This is the first vehicle Mercedes will sell with a battery in which part of the graphite has been replaced with silicon oxide. This switch helps increase the amount of energy the battery can hold and extend the range of the car.
The car also shows that artificial intelligence is permeating the car. Drivers can ask the car to find a charger near a good Italian restaurant, for example.
Among the apps for the vehicle's digital dashboard is Raidio.fyi, created by Will.i.am, in addition to leading Black Eyed Peas.
This service uses artificial intelligence to ask questions while programming. This is a kind of personalized call-in radio.
“You can ask, 'Hey, Rihanna has the makeup line I've heard. Please tell me where to buy based on where I'm now. And does she have a product for my cocoa skin complexion?” Will.I.Am said at a Mercedes event. “And it guides you and tells you where it is.”
