Mercedes greenlights 4 new electric cars to compete with Tesla, Porsche and Audi

Mercedes is not just watching on the sidelines while Tesla steals market shares from its segment, and while Porsche and Audi announces upcoming electric vehicles. According to a new report from Car Magazine, the legendary German automaker recently greenlighted 4 new electric cars.

The vehicles should be two sedans and two crossover SUVs build on Mercedes’ electric vehicle architecture “EVA”. The company invested $2 billion in EVA last year.

The first EV should hit the market in 2018, right around the time Porsche aims to release the Mission E and Audi the quattro. Sizewise, it should be between the C- and E-class.

According to Car, the sedans should come first, followed by the crossovers later.

For EVA, Mercedes will be using a similar battery infrastructure pioneered by Tesla in the Model S, meaning that the battery pack extends flat in the floorplan. It creates a low center of gravity and more cargo space. Recent renderings show that Porsche will be using the same structure for the Mission E.

Car Magazine also revealed that the battery pack should weigh around 400 kg and that Mercedes plans significant production capacity for the new electric vehicles with around 20,000 units per year for each and a starting price of around £70-80,000.

Daimler, Mercedes’ parent company, had a longtime interest in electric vehicles and made a significant investment in Tesla in 2009, which it sold last year. Until now, its plan for future EV models wasn’t clear, but the company offers an electric version of the B-Class, for which Tesla supplies the electric drivetrain.