Mercedes Benz plans electric car debut in India

NEW DELHI: Mercedes Benz has decided to launch the company’s first full-electric car in India, and the charge will be led by the EQC mid-size SUV, the first of the multi-model green car line-up (EQ range) that the German luxury carmaker plans to introduce globally over the next few years.
The company will initially import the EQC to India, but has also started to explore plans of assembling electrics at its factory in Pune as sales of the first green car begin and others get planned, Martin Schwenk, MD & CEO of Mercedes in India, said.

The EQC, which so far has been launched in countries such as Japan, US, Germany, Korea, and China, will be unveiled here later this month, before being finally launched around April. At the global level, Mercedes plans to design and manufacture ten electrics under the EQ badging by 2022, and the EQC — roughly architectured around its non-electric GLC SUV — is the first to roll out of the production lines.


The car promises a range of over 400 kms on full-charge, and takes around 90 minutes for 100% charge on fastcharging. In terms of performance, the car can race from 0-100 kmph in 5.1 seconds, and promises a torque of 765 NM and power of 408 horsepower.

Schwenk said it is “too early to talk about the price” of the car, though market analysts expect it to cost around Rs 1 crore after factoring Merc plans e-car debut in India with EQC SUV in import and other duties. Asked about making electrics in India, he said it remains a focus area.

“We would surely like to do local production. But before that, we need to learn here while also build scale (in sales volumes). We need to develop the market. It’s a complete new segment, and I am in a new terrain. We will review the option of local production of the EQC, or one of the next electric model. We are carrying out a detailed analysis.”

Schwenk said the company plans to have a “measured pace” in the launch of electrics, as it also maintains its focus on the volume-grossers — petrol and diesel versions. “EQC will be about sustainable luxury, but we are in no way giving up on diesels and petrols. They are, and will remain, our core business.”

With Mercedes taking a lead in the rollout of the BS6, Schwenk said the company’s India portfolio is as clean as it can get on petrol and diesel. On electrics, Schwenk said the company expects to do “reasonable numbers, and not mass volumes” in sales. “It will be a sporty and innovative car, and will help introduce our exciting electric range in India.” The company will have a limited-city launch for the green car.