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Mercedes Unveils First Tesla Rival in $12 Billion Attack
Mercedes-Benz, the world's largest maker of luxury cars, is rolling out its first in a series of battery-powered models, adding to a growing array of high-end brands targeting Tesla Inc.
The Mercedes EQC crossover starts production in the first half of next year, part of a plan to develop its EQ electric line, Daimler AG Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche told reporters in Stockholm at the model's world premiere. The company intended to invest 10 billion euros ($12 billion) in its electric-vehicle push but has ended up spending "more than that," he said Tuesday, without specifying figures.
"There is no alternative to betting on electric cars, and we're going all in," Zetsche said. "It is starting right now."
The car joins the Porsche Taycan, Audi E-tron and Jaguar I-Pace in putting pressure on Tesla as the California-based carmaker struggles to hit Model 3 production targets and earn profits. Mercedes plans to assemble the EQC at its factory in Bremen, where the automaker also makes its best-selling C-Class sedan. Daimler will build the car in China for the local market.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by KilroySmith on Sunday September 09 2018, @10:22PM (7 children)
Yet Another Tesla Killer.
Don't get me wrong, getting the the legacy manufacturers off their collective petroleum dependency and onto EVs is great, but they still don't understand.
Let me know when I can drive this Mercedes from New York City to Redondo Beach, CA ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannonball_Baker_Sea-To-Shining-Sea_Memorial_Trophy_Dash [wikipedia.org] ). A Tesla can accomplish this in 50 hours because Tesla invested in building thousands of Supercharger stations. The Legacy manufacturers believe that's SOP - Someone Else's Problem.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 09 2018, @11:45PM
Did you mean Someone Olse's problem? Or did you confuse that with Standard Eperating Proceedure?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by arslan on Monday September 10 2018, @01:07AM
You're right none of these manufacturers get it. The real Tesla killer looks like it is going to be Elon himself as his brain explodes again and again...
That said, Elon has achieved a lot in pushing everyone else to get serious about EVs - regardless of what happens or doesn't happen with Tesla hopefully it is a real mindset change and not just a fad with these manufacturers.
(Score: 5, Informative) by FatPhil on Monday September 10 2018, @03:48AM (1 child)
You youngsters are like Green Day fans who think they invented punk.
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Monday September 10 2018, @03:32PM
That was from over 10 years ago, filled with speculation about events that happened 25 years ago.
Useful to learn from past mistakes, but not necessarily a prediction of the future.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Monday September 10 2018, @12:03PM (2 children)
That's true, but it's more than that. To answer the inevitable objection that those supercharger stations were merely shifting carbon emissions from the car to the power plant, Tesla powered theirs with solar panels. To enable mass production, Tesla built the Giga factory. To anticipate the inevitable transition to autonomous cars, Teslas either already have driver-assist or are ready for that upgrade if/when a car owner wants to. To make sure early adopters don't regret moving first, the company has OTA updates to keep everybody current.
The thinking is strategic and multi-layered. In a free market, such prescience has to win out.
This does underscore that the other luxury brands, and even many of the mass-market brands, are chasing Tesla. Last year at the Frankfurt Auto Show everyone was showing off their EV models. Now Mercedes is making this move. To everyone out there who has pooh-poohed EVs, saying they'll never replace the ICE, do you still think that?
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by Knowledge Troll on Monday September 10 2018, @02:28PM (1 child)
Is it possible to believe that Tesla is a terrible company, Elon is a piece of shit, and that the internal combustion engine's days are numbered? Because that's what I believe.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Monday September 10 2018, @05:20PM
Sure you can, but then i was talking about the ICE faithful, not you.
Washington DC delenda est.