Mercedes-Benz last week confirmed plans for an electric E-Class arriving in 2027, possibly as a replacement for the EQE, the automaker’s current electric midsize sedan.
The EQE, which arrived only two years ago, has struggled to gain traction, managing just 11,660 sales in the U.S. last year, while the larger EQS fared even worse, with only 6,963 units sold.
The confirmation of the electric E-Class was part of a wide-ranging strategy announcement Mercedes made on Feb. 20 while presenting its financial results for the past year.
The automaker also revealed that the S-Class will receive a major update in 2026, incorporating the latest technology being introduced with its next-generation electric and hybrid vehicles—such as the upcoming 2026 CLA-Class, set to debut later this year in electric and hybrid guises.
Teaser for Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class with EQ Technology
Additionally, an electric GLC-Class, developed alongside an electric C-Class, will be unveiled in September at the 2025 Munich auto show. Both EVs, due for release in 2026, will be built on the MB.EA platform, which will also underpin the electric E-Class.
Mercedes will phase out the EQ designation as part of its main model names. Instead, EQ Technology will be used as a powertrain descriptor for EVs, while EQ Hybrid Technology will apply to hybrids. This new naming strategy debuted with the electric G-Class, officially named the G 580 with EQ Technology.
Furthermore, Mercedes announced that styling differences between EVs and gas-powered models will diminish, ending the jelly bean aesthetics of the current EQ lineup. The electric G-Class has already demonstrated this shift, meaning the planned electric E-Class will likely resemble the current E-Class, which may receive a mid-cycle update alongside the EV’s launch.
For performance enthusiasts, Mercedes confirmed it will keep its V-8 and V-12 engines alive for the foreseeable future, though the V-12 will be limited to select markets. The V-8 is being newly developed as part of a hybrid powertrain, expected to appear in AMG models as early as 2026.
