Update: ‘EDU 3.0’ section added.
We’ve long expected that only one of the two full-size Mercedes sedans, either the Mercedes S-Class or the Mercedes EQS, will move to the next generation. On July 31, 2022, JESMB published a report saying that Mercedes-Benz will have only one sedan in this segment in the future. That could be either a first-ever Mercedes S-Class Electric or the second generation of the Mercedes EQS, which was introduced in 2021.
Mercedes S-Class Electric vs. Mercedes EQS: The tug of war
This year marks 50 years since Mercedes-Benz introduced its S-Class luxury sedan. With sales of 500,000 units in just its sixth generation, there could be as many as 3 million S-Classes on roads around the world. The ‘Sonderklasse’ has stood the test of time, but it finds itself at a crossroad in life with many markets switching over to EVs.
When Mercedes-Benz released the seventh-gen S-Class in 2020, it said that this nameplate enjoys a high loyalty rate. Around 80% of customers in Western Europe and 70% of customers in the U.S. who previously drove an S-Class once again got themselves a Merc. This model series is particularly popular in China, the USA, S. Korea, and Germany.
The Mercedes S-Class is a legend in the automotive world. It’s a nameplate that has been around for five decades and shows no signs of slowing down. But some people argue that it’s time for a change. They say that the EQS (and the new nomenclature with EQ + traditional model series name) could be the way forward. Only time will tell if this is true.
MB.EA-L platform
The full-size EVs that Mercedes-Benz launches from 2025 will be based on its upcoming MB.EA platform. There will be two versions of the MB.EA platform: MB.EA-M (Medium) and MB.EA-L (Large). The Mercedes S-Class Electric or next-gen EQS would be based on the latter. The German automaker hasn’t revealed details of the MB.EA-M platform or the MB.EA-L platform yet. However, we think there’s a chance that the company will use all-solid-state batteries (ASSB) in the car.
All-solid-state battery (ASSB) cells
The rumored release date of the first-ever Mercedes S-Class Electric or next-gen EQS, which we will get to in the next section, indicates that customers could have an option for at least one battery pack that consists of all-solid-state battery (ASSB) cells. Mercedes-Benz is developing ASSB technology in cooperation with Taiwan-based ProLogium and plans to use it in select models in the second half of the decade.
Mercedes-Benz says that solid-state cells can deliver almost double the range of present-day NCM 811 lithium-ion battery cells. With the EQS V297’s lithium-ion battery cells allowing a WLTP/EPA range of 783 km (487 miles)/350 miles, the first-ever Mercedes S-Class electric or next-gen EQS’ solid-state batteries could better this figure with a smaller power pack.
EDU 3.0
The first-ever Mercedes S-Class Electric will employ the Electric Drive Unit 3.0 (EDU 3.0), as per a report JESMB published on October 31, 2022. The third generation of the company’s electric drive unit should be lighter and more efficient than eATS 2.0 (second-gen electric drive unit), which the company plans to use in the C-Class Electric (expected to be called EQC) and the successor to the current EQC (expected to be called EQC SUV).
Release Date
According to the second report from JESMB, the first-ever Mercedes S-Class Electric or the next-gen Mercedes EQS will arrive in 2028. The Mercedes plant in Sindelfingen (Germany) could apply internally for the construction of the MB.EA-L derivatives and sees itself in a good position to be awarded the contract, as per the site. Mercedes-Benz will probably keep the S-Class Mk7 on sale beyond 2028 so that it doesn’t lose customers in countries with limited charging infrastructure, as per the report.
TopElectricSUV says
It doesn’t matter if it is called an S-Class Electric or EQS as long as it is a pure-electric vehicle!
Featured Image: TopElectricSUV’s illustration of an S-Class Electric that introduces the flavor of the EQS to the S-Class sedan!
I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.
