Mercedes-Benz began production of its first all-electric vehicle in the United States.
The German automaker has begun mass production of its flagship model EQS SUV at its manufacturing plant in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, where it will be built exclusively.
The EQS SUV has been confirmed to arrive in Australia, with the first units expected to arrive in the first half of 2023.
Mercedes-Benz’s Alabama plant is now producing Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLS SUV with internal combustion engine and will start production EQE SUV “later this year”.
The German brand is also producing battery systems for EQS SUV at the newly opened battery factory in Bibb County.
The EQS SUV is the third model to be built on the Dedicated Electric Vehicle Architecture (EVA), following EQS lift back and EQE sedans.
The smaller EQE SUV will be the fourth model built on EVA and will be announced globally on October 16.
Three Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV models will be offered at launch: EQS 450+, EQS 450 4Matic and EQS 580 4Matic.
It’s not yet clear which model will launch, with pricing and specifications to be announced at a later date.
Mercedes-AMG versions of the EQS SUV are capable, with a Mercedes-Maybach version capable of being ordered to wear the EQS 600 SUV nameplate.
Like the EQS liftback, the entire EQS SUV range uses 107.8kWh lithium lithium-ion battery pack.
While the SUV range has the same battery as the EQS liftback, the claimed range for the EQS SUV is lower across the board with a maximum range of 660 km in the more difficult WLTP test cycle, instead of 784 km.
Rear EQS 450+ use one single electric motor manufacturing 265kW power and 568Nm of torque.
Midrange EQS 450 4Matic only one dual-motor all-wheel drive set with total system output of 265kW and 800Nmwhile dual motor EQS 580 4Matic whose total system output is 400kW and 858Nm.
Air suspension is standard, with adaptive dampers, four-link axles at the front and independent multi-link suspension at the rear.
All models are capable of receiving up to 200kW of power from the ultra-fast DC charging station, and the entry-level EQS 450+ is capable of adding 250km of range in 15 minutes.
An 11kW integrated AC charger is standard across the range and a 22kW unit is optional.
Externally, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV has a very similar design to the EQS liftback.
Inside, the similarities are even greater, with an almost identical panel that can also be optional with the MBUX Hyperscreen.
Measuring 141cm wide, the Hyperscreen features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch passenger touchscreen in a column-to-column housing.
The EQS SUV comes standard with five seats, but it can be optional with a third row with two additional seats.
When the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV hits a local lane, it joins EQA, EQBand EQC All-electric SUVs are locally available, as are the EQS liftback and EQE sedan.
As previously reported, the German automaker has announced that it will fully electric by 2030, wherever market conditions permit.
From 2025, Mercedes-Benz will launch three all-electric architectures. The main platform will be MB.EA, which will underpin all medium to large vehicles.
This will be complemented by AMG.EA for performance vehicles, and VAN.EA will form the basis for trucks and light commercial vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz will also launch ‘first phone’ MMA . Small Car Platform in 2024.
