Mercedes Reportedly Halts Development On Its Next-Gen Luxury EV Platform

Mercedes-Benz looks like it’s having a bit of a rethink on how and where it uses electric technology in its cars. After being one of the first companies to backtrack on its commitment to going electric-only in 2030, then reportedly shelving a four-cylinder hybrid powertrain for the upcoming CLE 63 in favour of a big ol’ V8, reports are now emerging that it’s halted development of its next-generation electric platform for large luxury EVs.

The report comes from German financial publication Handelsblatt. The platform in question was known as MB.EA Large, and was due to underpin next-generation versions of its EQE and EQS electric saloons.

However, due to slower-than-expected sales of both models, Merc has apparently taken the decision to cancel that platform in favour of an upgraded version of the existing cars’ underpinnings, which will replace their current 400v electric architecture with an 800v system that’ll allow faster charging and lighter weight. The decision will apparently save between £3.44 billion and £5.16 billion in investment costs.

The cars being developed on the MB.EA Large platform were originally slated to outright replace both the current EQE and EQS and the combustion S-Class, GLE and GLS. That’s now understood to not be the case, with the S, GLE and GLS set to get combustion-powered next-generations instead, while the next EQE and EQS will sit on an upgraded version of their existing underpinnings.

This isn’t necessarily a complete backtrack on Merc’s investment in EVs: the smaller MB.EA Medium platform is still said to be in the works. There’ll also be a compact EV platform that’ll sit beneath the next-generation CLA, GLA and GLB; a platform for commercial EVs; and one for bespoke electric AMG models, including a next-gen AMG GT Four Door and a related SUV. Very few of these upcoming EVs will likely use Merc’s existing EQ branding, which it’s already beginning to move away from in the new electric G580.