Mercedes-Benz is speeding up its electrification strategy with the announcement of six new all electric models by 2022, Kallanish reports.

The German automaker started on 14 December a “major Mercedes-EQ model offensive” aimed at becoming a leader in the field of e-mobility, focusing particularly in battery technology.

“With its ‘Electric First’ strategy, Mercedes-Benz is consistently on the path to CO2 neutrality and is investing heavily in transformation,” says Markus Schäfer, chief operating officer at Mercedes-Benz Cars. “We’re taking a comprehensive approach ranging from research and development to production, and also including strategic cooperation.”

Production of Mercedes-Benz’s first electric luxury sedan, the EQS, will begin in the first half of 2021 in Factory 56, at Germany’s Sindelfingen site. The all-electric compact SUV, EQA, will start production at the Beijing plant next year, following the start of production at the Rastatt plant in Germany.

Mercedes-Benz decided to locate the second all-electric compact SUV, EQB, at its Kecskemét plant in Hungary and will start series production in 2021. The model will also be manufactured at the Beijing plant.

Other launches include the EQE business sedan at the Bremen factory in Germany next year, and later on in China; as well as the SUV variants EQS and EQE at the Tuscaloosa plant in the US. Production of the latter will begin in 2022. By then, Mercedes-Benz’s portfolio will feature eight all-electric models and one of the most extensive EV lineup in the premium segments.

As part of the Ambition 2039, which targets carbon neutrality in the next 20 years, the carmaker is also transforming its global production network with both vehicle and battery factories. Production for battery systems for the EQS and EQE models is “imminent” in Germany. Manufacturing for the compact SUV battery systems will be done in Germany, Poland and China, while battery production for the EQS and EQE will start in the US in 2022.

“Local production of highly efficient battery systems plays a central role in the Mercedes-Benz strategy - coupled with a comprehensive sustainability concept that spans the entire life cycle of the battery all the way to recycling,” says Jörg Burzer, from Mercedes-Benz’s Production and Supply Chain division. “We’re now beginning a real Mercedes-EQ fireworks display.”