Mercedes-Benz chief says company does not expect all-electric sales by 2030

Mercedes-Benz chief says company does not expect all-electric sales by 2030

Mercedes-Benz has an ambitious goal to offer only electric vehicles by 2030, but the company’s chief executive said Monday at IAA Mobility auto show in Munich that it does not expect its European sales to be all-electric by that time.

Reuters is reporting the company’s goal is to maintain “tactical flexibility.”

“It’s not going to be 100% in 2030, obviously… from the whole European market, but probably from the Mercedes side as well,” Chief Executive Ola Källenius said.

Mercedes announced the goal last year when it opened its Bibb County electric battery plant, saying it would go all-electric “as market conditions allow.” But at the same time, company executives said the company would remain flexible, as American markets were still gearing up charging facilities.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the company is slowing down its electric capabilities.

At the same show, Mercedes-Benz unveiled new “close-to-production” concept vehicles that could travel more than 466 miles on a single charge, compared with a range of less than 380 miles for any Tesla model.

CNN Business reported the German automaker’s Concept CLA Class, with a sedan, station wagon and two SUVs. It is unclear when the models would enter production.

Källenius also said Mercedes’ G class, a line of compact SUVs, “will be electric.”

Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz last month announced they were joining the BMW Group, General Motors, Kia and Stellantis NV in developing a new, high-powered charging network with at least 30,000 chargers. The joint venture is expected to be established this year.

The new charging stations will be accessible to all battery-powered electric vehicles from any automaker using Combined Charging System (CCS) or North American Charging Standard (NACS).