Daimler to unveil long-distance electric car in October
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Germany’s Daimler will lift the curtain on its much-anticipated long-distance electric car at the Paris Motor Show in October, as the automaker gears up to compete with Tesla Motors Inc’s Model X sport-utility vehicle (SUV).
The company will display a prototype of an electric-powered Mercedes car with a 500-kilometre (310 miles) range, Chief Development Officer Thomas Weber said this week in Stuttgart at an event for journalists.
“The structure is ready, the teams are working and the initial results from road tests are coming in quick succession,” he said.
Weber did not specify how soon the car would hit the road but said it would be sometime this decade.
Daimler and European rivals are stepping up investments in electric vehicles in order to meet new EU pollution targets and catch up with U.S. battery-car specialist Tesla. The German government has also announced subsidies for buyers of electric and other less polluting cars.
German competitor Volkswagen’s subsidiaries Audi and Porsche have already unveiled long-distance electric prototypes, while BMW is working on one.
Weber also said Daimler would launch its fourth-generation electric Smart car at the end of the year in both two and four-seater variants.
Daimler currently offers two fully electric cars under its Smart and B-class models and a host of plug-in hybrids, powered by a combined battery and combustion engine. Further hybrid models are in the pipeline.
The company is aiming to sell more than 100,000 electric cars a year by the end of the decade, Weber said. He declined to provide the sales figure for 2015.
Daimler has also been working on fuel cell powered cars, which run on electricity generated by hydrogen. It initially planned to launch such a vehicle in 2014 but had to postpone, blaming pricing issues.
The fuel cell operated SUV GLC, likely to compete with Toyota’s Mirai, is now expected to enter production next year.
Questions & Answers
Q.When will Daimler unveil its new long-distance electric car?
When will Daimler unveil its new long-distance electric car?
Daimler will unveil a prototype of its new long-distance electric car at the Paris Motor Show in October. This display will show an electric-powered Mercedes with a 500-kilometre range, aiming to compete with Tesla's Model X SUV.
Q.Why are Daimler and other European car manufacturers increasing their investment in electric vehicles?
Why are Daimler and other European car manufacturers increasing their investment in electric vehicles?
They are stepping up investments to meet new EU pollution targets and to catch up with U.S. Battery-car specialist Tesla. The German government is also supporting this shift with subsidies for buyers of electric and less polluting cars.
Q.What are Daimler's sales targets for electric cars by the end of the decade?
What are Daimler's sales targets for electric cars by the end of the decade?
Daimler aims to sell more than 100,000 electric cars a year by the end of the decade. Chief Development Officer Thomas Weber stated this target but declined to provide the sales figure for 2015.
Q.What is the expected timeline for Daimler's fuel cell operated SUV?
What is the expected timeline for Daimler's fuel cell operated SUV?
Daimler's fuel cell operated SUV, the GLC, is now expected to enter production next year. Its launch was initially planned for 2014 but was postponed due to pricing issues, and it is likely to compete with Toyota’s Mirai.
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