Mercedes-Benz, a name often linked with luxury and forward-thinking design, has been pushing hard into the electric car market. Back in 2021, they rolled out the EQS sedan. This vehicle was meant to be the shining star of their new electric line. It promised a glimpse into the future of luxury driving.
However, the EQS didn’t quite hit the mark on sales. Despite its high-tech appeal, it seems many customers weren’t ready for its bold look. Gorden Wagener, Mercedes-Benz’s head of design, recently spoke about this. He admitted the car’s very futuristic style might be why sales were lower than expected.
Wagener knows that what customers want is most important. He suggested the EQS might have been “10 years too early” for buyers. The car features a smooth, arched shape. This design is a big departure from the classic, long hood look of the gas-powered S-Class. The S-Class is a favorite for those who want a car that looks stately and offers prestige.
Here’s what Wagener told Autocar:
I think the EQS probably came 10 years too early. It’s a very, very innovative car, and of course, it was not originally conceived as a chauffeur-driven limousine. That was not the intention. Many people in this category expect a long hood and the prestige of a chauffeur car, and the EQS is different in that aspect. It’s a completely different car. Maybe we should have marketed it differently, more like a futuristic CLS, an S-Class Coupé, or something like that.
Mercedes-Benz seems to be taking these lessons to heart. The company plans to change things up for the next electric S-Class. They will drop the “EQ” name for future versions of this luxury electric sedan. Instead, it will simply be called the S-Class, bringing back a familiar name.
This move signals a shift towards more traditional designs for their electric flagships. Ola Källenius, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz, confirmed this last year. He stated, “In the future, there will be two S-Class models: one with an internal combustion engine and one electric.” It appears Mercedes wants its top electric cars to blend cutting-edge tech with the classic look buyers already love.