Skip to main content

U.S. customers will have to wait another year for Mercedes’ electric EQC

In the United States, the wait for Mercedes-Benz’s first mass-market electric car just got longer.

Mercedes pushed back the U.S. launch of its EQC crossover until 2021, multiple media outlets have reported. That’s about a year after the first-quarter 2020 target Mercedes was originally aiming for. The delay is due to high demand for the EQC in Europe, where the model launched earlier in 2019.

Related Videos

A Mercedes spokesperson told Automotive News that the delay was “a strategic decision to first support the growing customer demand for the EQC in Europe.” Digital Trends reached out to Mercedes and received the following statement from a spokesperson.

“The EQC launch in Europe and other markets earlier in 2019 generated high interest worldwide for the EQC. In a recent direction from Daimler AG, it is a strategic decision to first support the growing customer demand for the EQC in Europe. As a result of this decision, the U.S. market launch date of the Mercedes-Benz EQC will be rescheduled to 2021 (originally Q1 2020).”

Autoblog received the same statement from Mercedes, but also noted that concentrating EQC sales in Europe could help the automaker avoid significant fines. While Mercedes did not comment directly on this, Autoblog noted that automakers in Europe will be subject to stricter emissions regulations starting in 2020. Only 5% of an automaker’s fleet will be allowed to emit more than 95 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, with the percentage dropping to zero in 2021. Automakers will be charged 95 euros ($106) for every gram over the limit. That may not sound like a lot, but it is expected to add up to millions of dollars in fines for the worst offenders.

This isn’t the first time an automaker has delayed the launch of a new electric model due to demand overseas. The next-generation Kia Soul EV has also been pushed back to 2021 — roughly two years later than expected. The Soul EV is already available in Europe, but Kia previously told Digital Trends that limited production capacity forced a delay of the U.S. launch. Production bottlenecks also led Mitsubishi to delay the U.S. launch of its Outlander plug-in hybrid for several years.

The delay means Mercedes will remain on the sidelines while rivals rack up sales. Jaguar and Audi recently launched their first mass-market electric cars, and Audi has already confirmed plans for more. BMW sells the pint-sized i3 but is planning larger models that will likely appeal to a broader audience. An electric version of the X3 crossover is due in 2020. The i4 sedan will follow the electric X3, although it may not arrive in U.S. showrooms before the EQC.

When it eventually goes on sale in the U.S., the EQC will have a base price of $68,895, which undercuts the rival Jaguar I-Pace and Audi E-Tron. Mercedes hasn’t released a range estimate for the U.S.-spec EQC, but it will need to offer significantly more than 200 miles per charge to be competitive.

Editors' Recommendations

Tesla Destination Chargers vs. Superchargers: What’s the difference?
tesla starts opening its supercharger network to other evs

One of the best things about owning a Tesla is being able to take advantage of the massive network of chargers to quickly and easily charge up your car. Charging a Tesla is extremely easy — all you have to do is plug in your car, and all of the costs and payments are handled automatically.

But did you know there are actually different kinds of Tesla chargers? Tesla Destination Charging and Tesla Superchargers are the two main options, but there are some key differences between the two. Understanding these differences will help you make sure you’re taking advantage of the best charger for your needs.

Read more
10 electric cars with the longest range
Lucid Air

Electric cars are becoming increasingly common, but there’s still one issue that new EV buyers run into — range anxiety. Because charging isn’t as easy or as quick as filling up a tank of gas, range can make or break an EV — it dictates how far you’ll be able to drive before you run out of juice.

Electric cars will continue to gain longer and longer ranges over time, but there are already some impressively long-range cars available. Here’s a look at the electric cars with the longest range.
Lucid Air Dream Edition

Read more
Mercedes is finally bringing an electric van to the U.S.
Front three quarter view of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter electric van.

Mercedes-Benz might be known for luxury cars, but it also makes vans, and it's finally bringing an electric van to the United States.

Scheduled to start production this summer, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is an all-electric version of the Sprinter full-size cargo van that's already a favorite of delivery services like FedEx and Amazon, as well as camper van converters. While the automaker has been selling electric vans in Europe since 2010, the new eSprinter is the first one aimed at the U.S. market.

Read more