Mercedes-Benz recently announced that it will launch five new electric vehicles (EVs) to the South African market in 2022. This, along with the launch of the Mercedes-EQ brand, spells a busy year for the German automaker and Formex Industries customer.
The automotive components and assemblies that Formex manufactures are used on Mercedes-Benz cars. We have had a long-standing relationship with Mercedes-Benz South Africa as an indirect supplier of components to the brand. Our products are not only used on the Mercedes-Benz cars manufactured in East London but they are also exported for use on vehicles manufactured elsewhere in the world.
These five new fully-electric vehicles from Mercedes-Benz will cater to different market segments, including sedans, SUVs and luxury vehicles, to complement their existing vehicles in these sectors. The EVs will fall under the EQ badge, with a third letter acting as the designator between vehicles in their respective segments.
“Mercedes-EQ range will provide benchmark performance for South Africans in the EV space. The EQ-design language of ‘sensual purity’ combined with ‘progressive luxury’ is highlighted by the specific exterior and interior design elements, and are completed by an EV-service ecosystem,” explains Mercedes-Benz South Africa vice president of sales and marketing, Selvin Govender.
Mercedes-Benz EVs have conventional naming
Just as Mercedes-Benz has the GLA, C-Class, E-Class and S-Class, so too will the EQ vehicles have a similar naming convention:
- EQA – This compact sports SUV looks similar to the GLA and has a power output of 140 kW and a range of around 412 km.
- EQB – This slightly larger SUV looks like a cleaner GLB and boasts seven seats. It has a power output of 215 kW and a range of about 419 km.
- EQC – This was the brand’s first full-EV and looks like a hybrid between the C-Class and the GLC. The all-wheel-drive platform generates 300 kW and a range of up to 437 km.
- EQE – This car will be slightly larger than the E-Class but it is the most compact EV in the new range.
- EQS – This is the luxury EV, similar to the S-Class, and has all the bells and whistles. The EQS puts out 385 kW and has a range of 780 km. It also holds the current title of the world’s most aerodynamic car.
The rollout of the new Mercedes-EQ vehicles
To support the rollout of these new EVs, 36 local dealerships and agent partners will be appointed to sell and service the EQs. Each customer will also receive a Mercedes-EQ wall charger and free installation wherever they choose. Since the success of electric mobility relies on charging infrastructure, Grid Cars will collaborate with Mercedes-EQ to expand its public charging network.
“South Africa is not without its challenges in terms of the EV landscape, however with our customer-centric growth strategy curated towards the local market a significant interest has already been shown by potential customers for our EQ range in SA,” says Mercedes-Benz South Africa co-CEO, Mark Raine.
“This interest is aided by the growth in the public charging grid including national coverage on main routes, and the number of potential customers with existing renewable energy solutions (or considering these in the near future). Based on these developments, we are confident that the cars we bring into the country will find many happy owners,” he concludes.
The Mercedes-EQ line-up serves to strengthen the momentum in the EV sector. The brand hopes to position itself as a leader in the electric vehicle market, both in South Africa and the rest of the globe. With five new exciting models to be launched, it’s certainly a step in the right direction for one of our OEM customers. For more information about our products or to request a quote, contact us today.
Formex Industries is a metal forming and assembly company that supplies a variety of complex products to the local automotive industry and the export market. The company is based in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropole, South Africa’s foremost region for automotive manufacturing and export.
Formex is a supplier with 69% black ownership, of which 37% are black women. The company is owned by Deneb Investments Limited – a subsidiary of Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited (HCI) – one of South Africa’s biggest true B-BBEE companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
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