Mercedes’ first electric SUV, the EQC has remained quiet since its unveil in September. However, it does seem that it has gained a decent number of pre-orders since that time.
While talking about the German automaker’s results in the past year, outgoing CEO Dieter Zetsche made the following comment about the EQC (via Welt):
“We are sure that we will not be able to meet the demand in 2019 and probably not by 2020,” says Zetsche. “But we do everything we can to achieve the maximum capacity.”
The EQC does not yet have a set date on which it will enter production. However most agree that it will be around mid- to late-2019, which will have it arrive late against rival Audi’s e-tron SUV that will begin European deliveries in March.
Speaking of which, Audi had also recently stated that it had, “more than 20,000 customers worldwide have already made advance reservations for the model.”. Additionally Porsche has also revealed its production numbers for the Taycan when talking about pre-orders.
However Daimler has not revealed the production capacity of its upcoming EQC. While Mercedes does not intend to have it simply be a compliance car, it is hard to gauge how seriously Mercedes is taking the electric SUV in its first years of production. One could make the argument that since no number was thrown out, that it was a bad number. For all we know Mercedes might only expect to produce 5,000 units in the first year. Now I am not saying that is the case, but you just never know. Still it is good that the EQC is getting some love from consumers.
The Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4MATIC will come with a dual motor setup, producing 300 kW (402 hp) and 564 lb-ft (765 Nm). A 0-60 time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h). All of this will be powered by a 80 kWh battery that will give a 280 miles (450 km) NEDC rated range.
That last part continue to worry me in terms of the EQC’s success. With the deciding factor for many people being the range, it is very possible for the EQC to have a real-world range in the very low 200 mile range. However with more electric cars coming out with ranges in the mid-200s, the EQC’s range will be less acceptable.
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Source: Electrek
