The Mercedes EQC launch in India is scheduled on October 8. Mercedes-Benz has listed the EQC on its local website and concluded the local media drive recently. These developments had indicated that the price announcement wasn’t far. Expect the launch price to be north of INR 1.2 crore (ex-showroom) for this fully imported electric SUV.
Via images shared by reader Arunabh (below) EVW reported last month that Mercedes-Benz would launch the EQC in the standard variant and the Edition 1886 variant. The silver sample in the pictures is the Edition 1886.
The Mercedes EQC is the first electric SUV from the German automaker. A standard 80 kWh Lithium-ion battery placed in the floor is the centrepiece of this EV. Consisting of 384 cells, with a split of two 48-cell modules and four 72-cell modules, this is a 405-volt battery with a 230 Ah nominal capacity. Just to make things clear, 80 kWh is the usable energy content. It supports fast charging and can be charged to 80% capacity in just 40 minutes with a 110 kW DC fast charger.
The Mercedes EQC range as per the new, stricter WLTP test cycle is anywhere between 370-414 km. The old, NEDC range was 445-471 km. Two motors, mounted at each axle draw output stored in the made-in-Germany battery from Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE, a 100% Daimler subsidiary. Together, they generate 300 kW (408 PS) and 760 Nm of torque. A 0-100 km/h sprint takes 5.1 seconds and the top speed of the SUV is 180 km/h (electronically governed).
The Mercedes EQC Edition 1886 has several special features to distinguish from the regular model, such as ‘EQC Edition 1886’ lettering on a high-gloss black badge on the mudguard, 20-inch alloy wheels in high-gloss black with white inserts (not seen on demo unit here), ARTICO man-made leather/DINAMICA microfibre upholstery in indigo blue and black and with ‘EQC Edition 1886’ branding, etc. It comes exclusively in the metallic high-tech silver colour.
The Indian auto industry is jolted by the COVID-19 outbreak and almost every launch, investment and expansion plan is being reviewed. In an interaction with NDTV carandbike on April 10 (via Youtube.com) Martin Schwenk, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said that the company had already committed a date and worked to get the EQC and the network ready for it. The company was prepared and ahead of schedule in the middle of March but the lockdown had forced them to push the launch.
Mercedes-Benz announced in January its launch plans for its first model in the EQ line-up, making it the first luxury manufacturer to launch an electric car in India. The company will launch it as a CBU import and is looking to gauge the response of the customers towards electric vehicles selling limited numbers initially. The vehicle was displayed at the Auto Expo in February and was spotted on pre-launch tests in March.
Mercedes-Benz is expected to equip dealerships with fast-chargers for customers, apart from offering wall box installations. Schwenk believes that the EQC will mostly be used for city commutes in India and the range will be enough, supported by the wall box at home or office.
The EQC has no competitors when it comes out this Diwali but next year it would have two rivals to contend with: the Audi e-tron and the Jaguar I-Pace.
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