MUNICH – On Sunday at the IAA Mobility auto show in Munich, Mercedes-Benz unveiled a line of concept electric vehicles (EVs) they say are close to production, with the German automaker claiming they offer superior range to any currently available model of Tesla.
Mercedes officials are saying that their Concept CLA Class – comprised of four new models including a sedan, a station wagon, and two SUVs – is slated to get over 466 miles (750 kilometers) on a single charge, compared to the less than 375 miles that any model of Tesla – including the Model 3 and Model S – currently offers, according to CEO Ola Källenius.
The Concept CLA Class represents an entirely new all-electric segment of entry-level vehicles at Mercedes-Benz,” he said. “The new vehicles could easily take you from Munich to Hamburg on a single charge.”
While impressive, given the fact that range anxiety is one of the main reasons cited by those who are not keen on adopting the new technology, the company did not say when the new EVs are scheduled to enter production.
BMW also turned heads at the show on Sunday by unveiling a new EV of their own that also features both longer range and faster charging times than the current range of Tesla models, signifying the efforts of German automakers to get in on the EV market in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
BMW’s Vision Neue Klasse EV – which was also presented as a concept vehicle at the show – utilizes a new type of battery cell that enables the vehicle to take a charge of 20 percent more than any previous BMW electric model; charging speeds are also anticipated to be approximately 30 percent faster as well, according to BMW board member Frank Weber.
With the Neue Klasse, we have embarked on the biggest investment in the company’s history,” he said.
BMW officials said that the Neue Klasse is slated to be offered to the public as soon as 2025.
Christopher Boyle is an investigative journalist, videographer, reporter and writer for SEARCHEN NETWORKS® as well as other independent news and media organizations in the United States. Christopher works on a wide variety of topics and fields, has been featured in print and online in a variety of publications, from local to national, and helps keep a keen-eye on what’s happening in the automotive world for Auto Buyers Market.