Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler said on Wednesday from London at a videoconference with investors that it will accelerate its move to electric cars as 2021 has started well despite the global chip crisis. Zero details on how quickly its range of cars will go electric. The German company said it expects 2021, despite the pandemic still in full swing in Germany, to be a significantly better year for pre-tax revenue and profits than 2020.
In common with German rivals BMW and Volkswagen, Daimler benefited from Chinese demand for high-margin luxury vehicles in the second half of 2020, which helped sales recover from production stoppages in the first part of the year. As for future plans, the Stuttgart-based company said it aims to accelerate the electrification of its product range, but has not provided any specific details. In 2019, Daimler said it expects plug-in hybrids or fully electric vehicles to account for more than 50% of its car sales by 2030. “We want to accelerate the electrification of our product portfolio,” confirmed the administrator. delegate Ola Källenius. “Our goal is to achieve this as soon as possible.” How soon will depend on many factors, including the availability of the charging infrastructure. Källenius said Daimler will reorganize two of its oldest German plants, Untertürkheim and Berlin-Marienfelde, and retrain workers to make parts for electric cars and parts for fossil fuel models.
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Daimler will unveil EQS next month, the all-new electric Mercedes-Benz flagship that uses a dedicated electric vehicle platform. The company said Wednesday that the EQS is expected to have a battery range of up to 770 kilometers (478 miles), which is up to the competition. As automakers develop ever faster charging batteries for consumers accustomed to filling fuel tanks of combustion engines in minutes, Daimler’s CEO said the EQS can be charged for a range of 300 kilometers in just 15 minutes.
Carmakers are racing to adapt as CO2 emissions targets become more stringent in Europe and China. BMW said it expects at least 50% of its sales will be zero-emission vehicles by 2030. Volvo said its range will be fully electric by 2030, and Ford has announced the same for its European models. Volkswagen aims for 70% of electric cars produced, again by 2030.
Meanwhile, Daimler is preparing to list its truck division, Daimler Truck, which is expected to take place by the end of 2021. The house of the three-pointed star announced in February its intention to spin off the unit, the most world‘s largest truck and bus manufacturer. The aim is to present itself to investors above all as a company focused on electric and luxury cars.