Mercedes-Benz will be offering an electric version for its entire model lineup by 2022. This would be done since that the company is predicting that by 2025, the purchase cost of electric cars will be at par with the ICE counterpart, which would facilitate the migration to battery-powered cars easier and effective.
The Chief Executive of Daimler, Dieter Zetsche, has confirmed this report on Monday at the company’s investor day in Sindelfingen. Daimler feels that since electric cars have a lower margin, the company would be better off setting for itself a more ambitious savings target. The new Fit for Leadership 4.0 plan is estimated at saving 4 billion Euros for the company.
Further, the Vice President of Finance and Controlling at Mercedes-Benz, Frank Lindenberg, has said at the event that during the beginning phase of the project, the company will have to face a significantly lower margin. This margin may even be as low as 50 percent to what it makes with conventional ICE cars.
Mercedes-Benz is presently setting up to launch the “EQ” electric car, which underpins the same platform as the Mercedes GLC. Lindenberg has further said that the EQ and the GLC will be produced at the same plant which will help the company manage the current demand for the EV. This will allow the company to keep up with the sales target as well. The Mercedes GLC is presently one of the best selling Mercedes cars in the global arena and marks a sales number of around 1,000 units per day. Hence, it will help the company to keep a balance in the sales line.
Presently, electric cars are much more expensive than conventional ICE cars, which is mainly due to the battery cost.