Mercedes-Benz shares pricing of US-built EQE SUV with potential for federal tax credits
Mercedes-Benz has finally shared the US pricing of its upcoming EQE SUV before it hits dealerships this spring. Since the all-electric luxury SUV will be built at Mercedes’ production facility in Alabama, certain trims may qualify for federal tax credits under new terms outlined in the Inflation Reduction act. Learn how all the price tiers break down below.
Mercedes-Benz’s EQ line of all-electric vehicles continues to grow in size and popularity by delivering some of the most luxurious and best performing models on the market today. This journey to one day becoming an entirely electric brand began with its EQS sedan, which was quickly followed up by a smaller version called the EQE in the fall of 2021.
The German automaker has also added EQC and EQB models, in addition to a seven-seat EQS SUV, which began production late last year as the company’s first EV built on US soil. It will soon be joined by an SUV version of the EQE, which made its public debut (without pricing) last October.
With first deliveries right around the corner, Mercedes has shared the pricing for each of the trims levels of the EQE SUV, some of which are low enough to potentially qualify for federal tax credits in the US.
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV pricing starts under $78,000
Per the release from Mercedes-Benz USA this morning, the EQE SUV will arrive in the US at a starting MSRP of $77,900 for the 350+ / 350 4MATIC trim. At that pricing, the lowest tier time of the EQE SUV falls below the $80,000 threshold for electric SUVs built in North America and could very well qualify for federal tax credits up to $7,500.
While the US Treasury Department still owes the federal government its delayed battery guidance pertaining to what EVs will qualify, Mercedes sits in a promising position considering the EQE SUV is built in Alabama and its batteries come from a facility nearby in Bibb County – not to mention we now know its qualifying pricing. Moving on, Mercedes explained how the trims break down in variation:
The 2023 EQE SUV line-up features the EQE 350+ SUV, EQE 350 4MATIC SUV and EQE 500 4MATIC SUV. Similar to the EQS SUV, all models will be offered in Premium, Exclusive and Pinnacle Trims for the US market. For the first time, the fully variable 4MATIC all-wheel drive system with torque shift in the EQE 350 4MATIC SUV is offered at the same starting price as the EQE 350+ SUV, enhancing value for customers for the highest volume model. Each trim showcases EQ-specific innovative technologies and luxurious features, along with an array of additional options for further personalization
The German automaker shared that US consumers can expect to see two new components come standard on the EQE SUVs – a heat pump to efficiently warm the EV’s interior and and intelligent powertrain management system that can disconnect and re-engage the front motor in 100 milliseconds whenever necessary, helping reduce drag and improve range (expected to tally up to 342 miles on a single charge).
The EQE SUV will also arrive as Mercedes’ first EV on the EVA2 platform to offer an optional Driver Assistance Package (available on the Exclusive and Pinnacle trims only). This ADAS can initiate lane changes without driver intervention.
Through a previously announced collaboration with Electrify America, EQE SUV customers automatically receive unlimited 30-minute charging sessions on the EA’s US network for the first two years following purchase. Now that we’ve gotten official pricing, keep an eye out for EQE SUVs hitting US dealerships in the coming months.
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Environment
Baidu- and Geely-backed JiYue brand unveils ROBO X EV that goes 0-100 km/h in under 1.9 sec
JiYue, a Chinese EV brand focused on delivering all-electric “robocars” to the masses, has unveiled its latest model, and it’s quite a deviation from its previous EVs—but in the best way. Earlier today, JiYue launched the ROBO X supercar, designed for high-speed racing. By high speed, we mean 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 1.9 seconds. My mouth is watering.
JiYue has only existed since 2021, when parent tech company Baidu announced it was expanding from software development into physical EV production, joining forces with multinational automotive manufacturer Geely.
The new “robotic EV” marque initially launched as JIDU with $300 million in startup capital before garnering an additional $400 million in Series A funding, led by Baidu, in January 2022.
In August 2023, Geely took on a larger role in JIDU alongside a greater financial stake as the brand reimagined itself as JiYue, inheriting the JIDU logo and its flagship model, the 01 ROBOCAR.
In December 2023, Baidu and Geely unveiled a second model called the JiYue 07. It was born from JIDU’s ROBO-02 concept, which debuted in 2023 and was designed to compete against the Tesla Model 3 in China.
The 07 finally launched in China earlier this year with 545 miles of range. With an all-electric SUV and sedan on the market, JiYue has unveiled an exciting new entry in the form of a performance supercar called the ROBO X. Check it out:
JiYue’s new ROBO X EV is available for pre-order now
JiYue showcased its new ROBO X hypercar in front of the crowd at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show earlier today. Similar to previous models but with a unique spin, JiYue described the ROBO X as an AI smart-driving supercar that, for the first time, blends artificial intelligence and autonomous driving into a high-performance, race-ready EV.
When we say “high performance,” we mean a quad motor liquid-cooled drive system that can propel the ROBO X from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in under 1.9 seconds. JiYue called the new ROBO X a “performance beast” with “the perfect balance of excellent aerodynamic performance and high downforce.” JiYue CEO Joe Xia was even bolder in his statements about the ROBO X:
For the next 20 years, the design of supercars will bear the shadow of Robo X. This is the best design in the history of Chinese automobiles today, and it is a landmark presence.
Fighter-style airflow ducts bolster the EV’s aerodynamics, efficiency, and overall posture. Per JiYue, the two-seater ROBO X is expected to deliver a maximum range of over 650 km (404 miles).
The new supercar features falcon-wing doors, a carbon fiber integrated frame, and a professional racing HALO safety system offering 360° of support. The interior features an AI smart cockpit with SIMO real-time feedback to give drivers an immersive racing experience.
Furthermore, JiYue said the vehicle will utilize parent company Baidu’s Apollo self-driving technology, which could make it the first electric supercar to apply pure-vision ADAS technology that enables track-level autonomous driving.
Following today’s unveiling of the ROBO X, JiYue has officially opened up pre-orders in China for RMB 49,999 ($6,915). That said, reservation holders will need to be patient as JiYue shared that it doesn’t expect to begin mass production of the ROBO X until 2027.
What do you think? Will people be talking about the ROBO X for the next 20 years?
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This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes the launch of the Lectric XPedition 2.0, Yamaha e-bikes pulling out of North America, LiveWire unveils an electric scooter concept, PNY readying its cargo e-scooters for pilot testing, Royal Enfield’s first electric motorcycle, and more.
The Wheel-E podcast returns every two weeks on Electrek’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the Wheel-E podcast today:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 9:30 a.m. ET (or the video after 10:30 a.m. ET):
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Crude oil futures were on pace Friday for loss for the week, as a supply gut and a strong dollar depresses the market.
U.S. crude oil is down more than 2% this week, while Brent has shed nearly 2%.
Here are Friday’s energy prices:
- West Texas Intermediate December contract: $68.56 per barrel, down 14 cents, or 0.2%. Year to date, U.S. crude oil has shed about 4%.
- Brent January contract: $72.36 per barrel, down 20 cents, or 0.28%. Year to date, the global benchmark has lost nearly 6%.
- RBOB Gasoline December contract: $1.99 per gallon, up 0.46%. Year to date, gasoline has fallen more than 1%.
- Natural Gas December contract: $2.70 per thousand cubic feet, down 2.98%. Year to date, gas has gained more than 4%.
The International Energy Agency has forecast a surplus of more than 1 million barrels per day in 2025 on robust production in the U.S. OPEC revised down its demand forecast for the fourth consecutive month as demand in China remains soft.
A strong dollar also hangs over the market, as the greenback has surged in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory.
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