Mercedes-Benz taps Tesla to power new B-Class electric compact

[Shawn Knight]

Mercedes-Benz recently partnered with Tesla Motors to help build its new B-Class Electric Drive compact. The vehicle, which debuted this week, is powered by a battery pack developed by Tesla according to a report from Auto World News.

The new B-Class Electric Drive features 174 horsepower with an electric driving range of around 100 miles. Mercedes was able to secure the deal through parent company Daimler which just happens to own a small stake in Tesla, the publication noted.

Some may think it’s counterproductive for Tesla to lend a helping hand to rival electric vehicle makers but truth be told, supplying batteries to other automakers could prove to be a long-term business for Tesla. That’s because the California-based startup is aiming to build a massive battery-producing plant in the near future.

Tesla is said to be eyeing a Southwest state like Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada or Texas for the build. The battery plant will end up being a huge boost to whichever local economy is lucky enough to land the deal. The factory will be capable of turning out around half a million battery packs each year and will employ around 6,500 workers. It’ll be the largest of its kind in the world, we’re told.

The compact Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive will be priced just over $40,000 and will arrive in select regions of the US later this summer before a broader nationwide rollout early next year.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/56602-mercedes-benz-taps-tesla-power-new-b-class-electric-compact.html

 

[VitalyT]

B-class Mercedes here is not popular. It is too small to be called an SUV, and if you do not care about the capacity, then it is just too ugly.

It may be 1/10th of the disaster that class R turned out to be, but it is certainly not the right brand for promoting electrical engines either. C-class should be the one for this kind of try-outs, or E-class, in the worst case scenario.

Ironically, Mercedes first proper hybrid is the new S500, for people who do not care about saving on petrol, and that was following the SLS hybrid, for people who do not care much about anything.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

Over 40 grand for that car??? You gotta be joking man.

 

[VitalyT]

Over 40 grand for that car??? You gotta be joking man.

Exactly, that's another side of the ugliness - the cost of the battery is too high for the B-class. As if it is not bad enough that few people like the B-class and its market share is dwarfed by the E-class and completely crashed by the C-class. I don't know what Mercedes is thinking here, but perhaps something along these lines: "If we are to f. this one up, it better be the B-class, 'cos nobody wants it anyway"

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

Exactly, that's another side of the ugliness - the cost of the battery is too high for the B-class. As if it is bad enough that few people like the B-class and its market share is dwarfed by the E-class and completely crashed by the C-class. I don't know what Mercedes is thinking here, but perhaps something along these lines: "If we are to f. this one up, it better be the B-class, 'cos nobody wants it anyway"

Very true. B class Merc's aren't a very common sight here like their other classes.

 

[Renrew]

40 grand for this rather plain looking Benz and 100 mile range is a travesty. Augustus must be spinning in his grave.