Mercedes-Benz Developing ‘Ecoluxe’ EV Platform: Report

Mercedes-Benz is reportedly set to join its ‘big three’ German rivals, by developing an electric vehicle platform and associated branding.

BMW has established its ‘i’ division and Audi has its ‘e-tron’ range, and now Merc could join them with a new platform under a yet-to-be-established ‘Ecoluxe’ banner.

Germany’s Autobild has revealed the plans, in a feature considering the position of the country’s carmakers in relation to Tesla’s increasingly popular - and all-electric - Model S sedan.  

The report predicts a German EV retaliation from BMW with its i5 model, Audi with the Q6, Porsche with a 917 and the new Mercedes Ecoluxe models.

Carmakers from all nations are understood to be taking the EV route more seriously at present, as tighter emissions regulations in Europe and the US in coming years may leave them with little choice.

Porsche has since denied any intentions to tackle Tesla head-on, saying the limited range of EVs in their current state goes against its core sports car principals.