Mercedes Claims That The Electric EQS Was Introduced “10 Years Too Early.”

The look of the electric Mercedes EQS didn’t exactly win over customers, and Mercedes’ design chief offered several explanations for why the EQS never really took off.

Gorden Wagener told Britain’s Autocar that the flagship electric car was launched “10 years too early”, suggesting it was simply too futuristic for its good. However, the car has been on the market for about four years, and we haven’t seen a big change in public perception.

Many still dislike the design of the EQ lineup. Wagener notes that the EQS didn’t attract S-Class buyers because it’s fundamentally different and wasn’t designed as a traditional chauffeur-driven luxury sedan. In hindsight, he believes the car should have been marketed more like a futuristic CLS or an S-Class Coupe.

Mercedes has already admitted that it has learned from its past mistakes. It now unifies the design language for models with internal combustion engines and for electric models. The next-generation S-Class will thus spawn a zero-emissions version that should replace the EQS. The egg-shaped style is on the way out, although the change won’t happen overnight. The current generation S-Class is scheduled for a facelift in 2026, so its successor likely won’t arrive until the end of the decade.

Mercedes is moving to combine combustion engine and electric models across its lineup. The upcoming electric GLC will not be badged as the EQC, as the brand phases out the EQ line. This shift shows Mercedes is mirroring BMW’s strategy of offering multiple powertrains within one model family.

In a previous interview with ABC News, Wagener defended the EQ’s design, calling it “purposeful and very progressive.” He noted that weak demand for the EQS stems not just from its styling but from customer perceptions of electric vehicles. “Customers see them as electronic devices, whereas cars with internal combustion engines are viewed as long-lasting timepieces,” he said.

Mercedes has already tried to make the EQS resemble the S-Class by installing a different front fascia. A second facelift is in the pipeline, with a three-pointed star motif integrated into the headlights. This upcoming refresh suggests that the EQS will remain in the lineup for at least a few more years, which makes sense given that an electric S-Class isn’t expected until 2030.

• Read More: Mercedes-Benz Improves Its Electric Vehicles With A Recent Update.