Mercedes-Benz EQS production started, sales in Europe set for this fall

Mercedes-Benz has begun producing the EQS luxury line of saloons (internal model designation V297) on its Factory 56 in Sindelfingen, Germany, where the regular S-Class and the Maybach S-Class are also made.

The production start necessitated training around 1,500 employees. The manufacturer highlights the environmental cleanliness of the facility: for example, the solar panels on the roof provide it with nearly one-third of the total power. Mercedes execs have called the launch of the EQS an important step towards carbon neutrality.

There will be two main EQS specs to choose from. The EQS 450+ features a single rear-mounted electric motor rated at 333 PS (328 hp / 245 kW) and 568 Nm (419 lb-ft) of torque. It weighs in at 2,480 kg (5,467 lbs) and gets from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.2 seconds. Its 107.8-kWh battery grants it 770 kilometers (478 miles) of WLTP-rated range.

The EQS 580 4Matic is an all-wheel-drive sedan that weighs more at 2,585 kg (5,999 lbs), but has plenty of thrust with its 523 PS (516 hp / 385 kW) and 855 Nm (631 lb-ft) of torque and reaches 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds. Both max out at 210 km/h (130 miles per hour).

Sales in Europe will start in the autumn.