Nov. 30, 2017—Mercedes-Benz will offer electrified versions of its entire portfolio within five years, WardsAuto reports.
2016 was a year where 159,000 new EVs hit the road, and sales were up 38 percent over 2015’s numbers. Craig Van Batenburg, founder of the Automotive Career Development Center, said your shop can expect models from certain automakers that are leading that pack, such as Tesla, Chevrolet, Nissan, Ford and Toyota.
MBUSA President and CEO Dietmar Exler announced the plans at Los Angeles’ annual auto show, where the German automaker held the world premiere of its ‘18 CLS (billed as a 4-door coupe) and the U.S. debut of a new S-Class Cabriolet.
“We’ll electrify our portfolio by 2022 with 50 new models (Mercedes and Smart), with at least one electrified alternative in all segments,” Exler said.
The automaker is investing $1 billion to expand its assembly plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where it will make electrified SUVs. Mercedes also plans to build a battery plant nearby.
“We intend to play a lead role in shaping the future of mobility,” Exler said.
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