Mercedes-Benz delays introduction of EV in South Africa

Mercedes-Benz South Africa has postponed the local introduction and launch of its fully electric vehicle (EV), the EQC to 2022.

Mercedes-Benz marketing director, Selvin Govender said: “The market introduction and start of sales of the EQC was set to take place in 2020, but due to the significant disruption of Covid-19 and other contributing factors, we took the decision to postpone the market introduction to early 2022,” according to Engineering News.

The current plan is to introduce four EQC models into South Africa, namely the EQA (compact car), EQB (SUV), EQC (SUV) and the EQS (sedan).

Govender believes that the models will set a tone for the brand where future innovation and technology plays a big role and it will also create a path to sustainable motoring.

The EQA will be an entry-level to the EQ range while the EQC will be finalised and announced closer to the market introduction in 2022.

“While electric vehicle sales are relatively small in South Africa, we cannot escape the global push towards zero-emission mobility, currently spearheaded by the European Union,” he added.

Mercedes-Benz Cars are focusing on autonomous driving, flexible vehicle use and electric drive systems going into the future.

“In South Africa, Mercedes-Benz Cars aims to play a leading role in all four areas of the strategy,” said Govender.

South Africa has challenges in terms of the EV landscape, such as disruptive power supply and additional taxes on EVs, especially electric vehicles from Europe.

Public charging infrastructure remains a challenge in South Africa because no customer would want to be without sufficient range on his or her vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz Cars is a member of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa’s (Naamsa) Electric, Hybrid and Alternative Vehicle Committee, and supports the call for the government to give “serious consideration” to a number of requests related to EVs.

When it comes to incentives to purchase EVs, it is interesting to note that the EQA is launching in Germany with considerable financial support.