750-kilometer range bothers Elon Musk: Will Mercedes bring the ultimate Tesla killer?

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Mercedes-Benz has introduced an electric car with a longer range than any Tesla model on the market. The German luxury automaker is therefore accelerating its efforts to challenge Tesla’s boss, Elon Musk.

The company introduced the near-production concept of the CLA sedan, which can travel more than 750 kilometers on a single battery charge. The concept car thus surpasses Tesla’s revised Model 3. The car is the first car to be developed based on Mercedes’ upcoming electric car. The battery system provides an additional four hundred kilometers of range in just fifteen minutes of charging.

“We’re taking this to the next level,” Mercedes Chief Technology Officer Markus Schäfer said in an interview before the IAA in Munich on Sunday. “This vehicle is extremely important for innovation and for pushing the boundaries of what we can do with a production vehicle.”

Automakers under pressure

Mercedes is under pressure to expand its product range. This comes after disappointing sales figures in China forced the automaker to cut prices on some of its electrified models.

Mercedes wants to surpass Tesla and increase its sales in China. In the People’s Republic, customers are increasingly turning to local brands such as BYD and Nio, which know better how to produce electric cars with software to suit local tastes.

Mercedes plans to sell only electric cars by the end of this decade. For this reason, eight battery factories will be established together with the partners.

CEO Ola Källenius said that while the German automaker is unaffected by the electric car price war in China, the era of rapid growth in its largest auto market may be over. “After thirty or forty years of economic miracle, they are reaching a level of maturity where you have to deal with structural problems,” he told Bloomberg TV. “We have to be a little careful and see how things unfold.”

China’s rich want chauffeur

The CLA concept lacks the broad roofline of Mercedes’ EQS and EQE sedans. Their low roof makes them more aerodynamic and increases their range, while the design also reduces headroom in the rear seats. This is a disadvantage in the Chinese market, where wealthy customers often prefer to be chauffeured.

Mercedes wants to increase its profit margins. That’s why the company is focusing its resources on high-end vehicles such as Maybach sedans, AMG performance vehicles and the G-Wagon SUV. At the same time, Mercedes is moving away from less profitable entry-level models such as the compact A-Class.

The new CLA concept now makes clear how the automaker plans to maintain its position in the entry-level luxury segment. Mercedes wants to attract younger customers and compete more with big manufacturers like Volkswagen and Toyota. (dob)

Source :Blick