Settings

ⓕ font-size

  • -2
  • -1
  • 0
  • +1
  • +2

Mercedes-Benz introduces luxury electric SUV

  • Facebook share button
  • Twitter share button
  • Kakao share button
  • Mail share button
  • Link share button
Mercedes-Benz Korea vice presidents Johannes Schoen, left, and Lee Sang-kuk, third from right, pose with other officials and the German carmaker's EQS SUV during a press conference at the Grand Hyatt Seoul hotel, Wednesday. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea
Mercedes-Benz Korea vice presidents Johannes Schoen, left, and Lee Sang-kuk, third from right, pose with other officials and the German carmaker's EQS SUV during a press conference at the Grand Hyatt Seoul hotel, Wednesday. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea

By Baek Byung-yeul

Mercedes-Benz has introduced its large-sized electric vehicle (EV), the EQS SUV with an aim to increase its presence in the luxury EV market here, the Korean subsidiary of the German carmaker said Wednesday.

"EQS SUV is the first large-size electric SUV in the current electric vehicle market and also the most luxurious and the most powerful electric SUV that Mercedes-Benz has ever introduced," Johannes Schoen, vice president of Mercedes-Benz Korea, said during a press conference in Seoul.

"This means that the new EQS SUV is the one and only model in the current electric vehicle market without comparison from the exterior. The EQS SUV to the largest dimensions among the Mercedes EQ," the vice president in charge of product, marketing and digital business of the Korean unit, added.

Mercedes-Benz officially launched its electric SUV in the Korean market, Tuesday. It was developed based on its EVA2 platform, an EV-dedicated architecture. Mercedes-Benz Korea said the new model "features a spacious and luxurious interior and an aerodynamic design and delivers excellent driving performance in any type of road condition."

The company began selling two models of the EQS SUV ― the new EQS 450 4MATIC SUV and the new EQS 580 4MATIC SUV, which are priced at 152.7 million won ($124,005) and 185.4 million won, respectively.

In addition, the company is also selling a special model edition for the 450 and the 580 this year. The 450 and the 580 models can travel 459 kilometers and 447 kilometers, respectively, on a single charge.

"Especially the 580 4MATIC model with an output of up to 400 kilowatt shows powerful performance and also record standard sprints from zero to 100 kilometers in just 4.6 seconds," Schoen said.

Lee Sang-kuk, vice president of Mercedes-Benz Korea, introduces the German carmaker's sales strategy in the Korean market, during a press conference at the Grand Hyatt Seoul hotel, Wednesday. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea
Lee Sang-kuk, vice president of Mercedes-Benz Korea, introduces the German carmaker's sales strategy in the Korean market, during a press conference at the Grand Hyatt Seoul hotel, Wednesday. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea

12 new models to enter Korean market

Mercedes-Benz Korea also said the company will launch 12 new models in the Korean market this year.

Under its business strategy of bolstering luxury, electrification and sustainability, the company will release two new vehicles, including the EQS SUV, two full-change models and eight updated models here in 2023.

For new models, the company will launch the EQE SUV in the second half of this year while the new generation models are the Mercedes-AMG SL and the new GLC.

The GLA, the GLB, the GLE, the GLE Coupe, the GLS, the CLA, the A-Class hatchback and the A-Class sedan are new models, which have undergone a facelift.

Lee Sang-kuk, vice president of the Korean unit, spoke about how the German carmaker has expanded its presence in the Korean market during the past 20 years.

"When Mercedes-Benz Korea was established in 2003, we started with eight showrooms and eight service centers. Now we have 64 showrooms, 77 service centers and 24 showrooms for certified used cars, establishing the largest service network as a single brand in the country's imported car market," Lee said.

Sharing its performance figures for 2022, the company said that it sold over 80,000 cars in the Korean market last year, becoming the first car brand to surpass the milestone among imported car brands. The company added the Korean market is the fourth-largest market for the German carmaker, following China, the United States and Germany.


Baek Byung-yeul baekby@koreatimes.co.kr


X
CLOSE

Top 10 Stories

go top LETTER