Mercedes-Benz Halts Next-Gen EV Platform Amid Demand Slowdown

Mercedes-Benz, amidst a slowdown in electric vehicle (EV) demand, has announced the cessation of its next-generation platform for mid- and full-size electric vehicles, the MB.EA architecture. This decision reflects the company's strategy to curtail spending in the EV sector following a sluggish sales performance.

The revelation, initially reported by Germany's Handelsblatt and later confirmed by Mercedes to Automobilwoche, underscores the automaker's response to market dynamics and customer preferences. Mercedes conveyed in a statement that "The pace of transformation will be determined by market conditions and the wishes of our customers."

The MB.EA platform, unveiled in 2021 with a commitment to transition exclusively to EVs by 2030, has been shelved due to lower-than-anticipated EV sales. Mercedes disclosed in February its departure from this plan, intending to persist with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles well into the next decade.

Originally, two iterations of the MB.EA platform were envisaged: MB.EA Small and MB.EA Large. While development of the former continues, with an electric C-Class slated for debut next year, the latter, designed for successors to the EQE and EQS models, has been halted. Instead, Mercedes plans to enhance the existing EVA2 platform utilized in the current models for their successors. Reports suggest that the successor to the EQS, anticipated around 2028, will adopt a more conventional sedan shape, departing from the current model's design.