Mercedes-Benz And Other Auto Companies Trying To Catch Up With Tesla

Sep 09, 2016 05:10 AM EDT | J Russ I.

Tesla is still a growing company if it's compared to its giant automobile rivals. With recent years, however, the competition in the market has turned into a classic David versus Goliath match.

Small though Tesla may be, the Silicon Valley start-up is threatening the sales of its competitors, sending them to their drawing board to keep up with Tesla's tech advances. As a result, Mercedes-Benz is reportedly working on six new battery-electric automobiles, including SUVs, sedans, and compact cars.

These battery-operated vehicles are expected to come out in 2018. The number of new cars being developed exceeds initial expectation where only four models were reportedly in the works by Daimler, Mercedes-Benz's parent company.

The first prototype of this vehicle - speculated to be a crossover SUV equal in size to Mercedes' latest GLC models - is to be presented next month at the Paris Motor Show. The unveiling is expected to be followed by three more Mercedes-Benz EVs, including two sedans as well as a far larger crossover SUV, bigger than the ones Mercedes currently has in existence.

Other German automobile giants - Audi and BMW - are also stepping up their game in terms of tech advances to keep up with their American rival. Every sale that Tesla makes is being viewed by its competitors as another loss of income on their part, increasing the need for them to respond with their own advanced electric vehicle.

And with the Tesla Model 3 nearing its first appearance, frustration and pressure are definitely high on Mercedes, Audi, and BMW's part.

Currently, we don't know how well Mercedes' model will stack up against Tesla until the above mentioned Paris show takes place. What we do know is if it finally hits the market, it will be sold under a Mercedes' sub-brand that'll feature a distinctive style that's likely similar to last year's Concept IAA, which boasts aerodynamic transformation and systematic digital networking, among other things. 

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