According to reports from multiple sources, including Drive, Mercedes-Benz has dropped its targets to sell EVs only “where market conditions allow” by 2030.
Mercedes-Benz announced publicly in 2021 their zero-emissions goals alongside an ambition to have 50 per cent of its European sales made up of hybrid and electric cars by 2025. Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius told investors recently that the target has been delayed to “the second half of the decade.”
Mercedes-Benz reported 240,000 electric vehicles as sold globally in 2023, an increase of 77 per cent over 2022.
We’ve only just reported on the death of Arrival, a UK EV manufacturer who went bankrupt before shipping a single product. So, while this isn’t a pattern yet, the fact that Mercedes-Benz has to scale back its plans on going full EV is telling of the state of the industry as a whole.
The report further notes that Mercedes-Benz will maintain its goal of net-zero emissions across its line-up and supply chain, and will continue to pursue an 80 per cent reduction in the emissions produced by its new-car line-up by 2030 – compared to 2018 levels.
It now projects that around half of its sales will be fully electric by 2030.
Not even in Europe, where EV sales growth outpaces North America’s, does Mercedes expect to transition to EV-only sales anytime soon, the company’s CEO Ola Källenius told Reuters. “It’s not going to be 100% in 2030, obviously… from the whole European market, but probably from the Mercedes side as well,” he said.
Perhaps they can listen to Toyota and bet on a hydrogen future instead?
