Mercedes-Benz Kicks Off US EV Production With The EQS SUV
Mercedes-Benz’s North American EV production has kicked off with the EQS SUV.
Made in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the Mercedes-Benz EQS is the first EV made in America by the German brand. The Alabama plant will produce the EQS SUV, and the batteries are supposed to come from a battery plant in nearby Bibb County, Alabama, also constructed and managed by Mercedes-Benz.
The Alabama plant is no stranger to SUV production. Since 1997, the plant has been responsible for Mercedes-Benz SUV manufacturing. It made M-classes for the world, exporting SUVs for the then-new Luxury SUV market around the globe. Similarly, the Alabama plant will supply the entire globe (except China) with EQS SUVs. Then, soon, the smaller EQE SUV will also be manufactured at the plant.
In theory, this could make Mercedes-Benz poised to do well in the US market. The US Inflation Reduction Act incentivizes EVs that have North American production. With an American-made battery, American-made assembly, and potentially Canadian-sourced battery materials, the EQS and EQE SUVs could end up being the most North American-made EVs on the market.
No pricing or range details have been released for the EQS SUV, but we do know that the EQS SUV will come in two flavors, just like the EQS sedan. The base EQS 450+ will have 335 horsepower, and the higher tier EQS 580+ 4MATIC will have a whopping 536 horsepower. The EQS SUV is expected to go on sale before the end of the year.
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Kevin has been obsessed with cars ever since he could talk. He even learned to read partially by learning and reading the makes and models on the back of cars, only fueling his obsession. Today, he is an automotive journalist and member of the Automotive Press Association. He is well-versed in electrification, hybrid cars, and vehicle maintenance.
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Looks much better than the comparable efforts that BMW is offering.