Mercedes-Benz made an ambitious foray into the global electric vehicle market with the EQC, though this model never reached American shores. Originally slated for a 2021 release, the EQC's debut was delayed by more than a year. Ultimately, Mercedes-Benz decided not to launch this electric crossover in the US after a thorough market analysis. Recent updates have revealed that the EQC has been globally discontinued for some time now.
In an email correspondence with Motor1, Jan Weber, who oversees International EQ-Product Communications at Mercedes, confirmed that production of the EQC stopped in the second quarter of 2023. This indicates that the last unit of this electric crossover was produced over a year ago. While Business Insider reported back in July 2022 about the planned discontinuation of the EQC by May 2023, Mercedes-Benz never officially announced this decision. Now, there is formal confirmation, albeit significantly after the fact.
Although the EQC has been phased out, the nameplate is expected to be revived for a new electric vehicle. This future model is envisioned as a competitor to the Tesla Model 3 and will incorporate insights from the sleek Vision EQXX concept. The new vehicle is likely to be similar in size to a CLA or C-Class Sedan and will utilize the Modular Mercedes Architecture (MMA). Much like the original EQC, which shared its platform with combustion-engine vehicles, the MMA will not be exclusively for electric vehicles.
However, Christoph Starzynski, Mercedes-Benz's vice president of development for electric drive, stated in 2022 that the compromises in this architecture would primarily impact the internal combustion engine (ICE) segment. This means the MMA is designed with a focus on electric vehicles, with some accommodations for ICE cars.
Unlike the existing EQ models, the forthcoming EQC is expected to move away from the criticized bulbous design. For a preview of its fresh design, one can look at the Concept CLA-Class. It is anticipated that the aerodynamic advancements from the Vision EQXX will be incorporated into this new production car.