Mercedes-Benz plans to assemble the electric variant of its EQS sedan in India at its Chakan manufacture by the end of 2022.
Mercedes-Benz is reportedly planning to start manufacturing some of these vehicles in India. According to the head of the company’s local unit, this step would be part of a broader strategy to expand the company’s portfolio in the country. The EQS will be one of the 10 new Mercedes models to be launched in India by the end of 2022. The reason for the delay is that the Chakan plant will not only need to be upgraded to accommodate the EQS’s electric powertrain, but staff will also need to be trained to build this new model with its unique powertrain.
Local development
With a car like the EQS, Mercedes will be the first luxury carmaker to assemble electric vehicles in India. Martin Schwenk, managing director of Mercedes Benz India, is confident that the EQS will set the standard for electric vehicles in the country.
Over the past two years, Mercedes has been preparing a roadmap for electric vehicles in India. Future launches will depend on market demand and government regulations, Schwenk added. Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz, has said it wants to invest more than $47 billion in the development of battery electric vehicles worldwide by 2030.
In 2021, Mercedes sold 11,242 cars in India, registering a strong 42.5 percent year-on-year growth. Schwenk believes sales will approach peak levels if pandemic-related challenges and supply chain disruptions, such as the semiconductor shortage, come to an end this year.
With the local assembly of its flagship electric vehicle, Mercedes could gain an advantage in the luxury electric vehicle segment, where rivals such as Audi, Jaguar or BMW import their respective electric vehicles entirely.
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Featured photo : © Mercedes-Benz
