Mercedes just unveiled its electric concept SUV to take on Tesla
Behold: Mercedes' first all-electric SUV concept car.
The German automaker unveiled the SUV concept, Generation EQ, at the Paris Motor Show on Thursday. As Autocar previously reported, the all-electric SUV concept is based on the GLC Crossover.
Dieter Zetsche, the head of the Mercedes-Benz car division, said at the Paris Motor Show that the all-electric SUV would be on the road in three years and in the same price range of the GLC Crossover, which starts at $39,150. The SUV has a range of up to 310 miles, Zetsche said at the event.
Mercedes is looking to ramp up its electric-car offerings. Daimler's chief development officer, Thomas Weber, said in May that Mercedes-Benz was aiming to add four new electric cars to its model range by 2020.
It seems the Paris Motor Show is turning into the spot to reveal electric-car concepts.
Volkswagen unveiled its I.D. electric concept car at the show, advertising a range of 248 miles to 372 miles on a single charge. The German automaker is planning to release its production version of the car in 2020, with a fully autonomous version slated to arrive in 2025.
Automakers' focus on electric concept cars that boast longer ranges shows that competition is mounting among electric-car makers.
Tesla recently announced a battery upgrade it said would increase the range of the Model S with Ludicrous mode to 315 miles and of the Model X with Ludicrous mode to 289 miles. The Chevy Bolt is expected to have a range of 238 miles when it hits dealerships by the end of 2016.
Mercedes' electric SUV is still in the concept phase, so it isn't fair to compare it with existing models. But considering Mercedes is aiming to have the car on the road in three years and provide consumers with an all-electric SUV option at a competitive price, it could be a threat for Tesla down the line.