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Mercedes-Benz Australia Commits To EQ Range Of Electric Vehicles

The Australian arm of Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that it will offer a selection of the brand’s EQ electric vehicle range locally, despite a lick of incentives and infrastructure support from the Australian government. Mercedes-Benz' parent c


The Australian arm of Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that it will offer a selection of the brand’s EQ electric vehicle range locally, despite a lick of incentives and infrastructure support from the Australian government.

Mercedes-Benz' parent company, Daimler, first announced plans for a range of EQ-branded electric models in 2016, and is currently on track for a 2019 production debut before growing into a fully-realised four-model range including the compact EQ A, medium SUV EQ C, larger EQ E SUV, and flagship EQ S.

David McCarthy, senior manager of product and corporate communications for Mercedes-Benz Australia, said the company will look at adding several of the all-electric models to local showrooms by 2019, but admitted the entire range may not make it here.

“We’re committed to them internationally and nationally,” McCarthy said. “There might be a couple of models that don’t fit for Australia. Australia’s fleet mix is very different to other parts of the world, but we will bring the vehicles that fit our market and that customers want to buy.”

In preparation, Mercedes-Benz has increased its involvement in electric vehicle planning within Australia including promoting investment in infrastructure such as charging stations.

“We recently joined the Electric Vehicle Council of Australia, because we think that is a good way to advance the cause,” McCarthy said. “At the end of the day the government has got to play a role here. They’re talking about reducing emissions and what they want to do… There needs to be more charging stations, the EV Council is looking at that. The FCAI is part of that discussion too.”

“The government needs to work out what they want to do about this because, really, they’ve done nothing.”

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