Mercedes Gives Reasons Why Its EVs Have Controversial Designs

Since its launch in 2021, Mercedes’ EQS model has faced criticism for its design. Many believe the production version lacks the style of the 2019 Vision EQS concept, though some think it looks better in person.

The candy-like design, driven by aerodynamics to achieve maximum range, was also applied to the smaller EQE model, but now Mercedes explains that aerodynamics was not the only reason for this approach.

Markus Schäfer, Mercedes’ Chief Technology Officer, discussed the company’s approach to electric vehicles, highlighting that early buyers wanted cars that stood apart from traditional models with internal combustion engines. In an interview with WhichCar, he defended the aerodynamic designs of the EQS and EQE models.

“Early customers wanted to be different. They wanted to show they were driving an electric car, and now we’re entering mainstream and mass acceptance, and customers don’t want to show they’re driving an EV. They want the same shape, regardless of powertrain,” Schäfer said.

It appears that Mercedes is now adopting the approach that their rival BMW has been applying since the beginning—avoiding a shared design language and introducing only subtle changes to differentiate their electric models from those with internal combustion engines (ICEs). Future electric models like the CLA and EQC will be much closer in design to their gasoline counterparts, and the same goes for the all-electric C-Class arriving next year.

However, while Mercedes is unifying the design, the platforms will remain separate. Schäfer emphasized that sharing the same architecture for different plants creates compromises, which the company wants to avoid. “Fitting both powertrains on the same platform ultimately results in a compromise, and we don’t want to offer compromised cars,” he said.

Gorden Wagener, head of design at Mercedes, describes the style, which many call “egg-shaped”, as “convenient and very progressive”. He believes EQS was ahead of its time and launched “10 years too early”. He also blamed marketing strategy for the lackluster sales, arguing that the car might have attracted more buyers if it had been presented as a “futuristic CLS or S-Class Coupe”.

While the EQS will receive a redesign and remain on sale for a few more years, its smaller sibling, the EQE, will reportedly be phased out in 2026 to make way for the electric E-Class. Ultimately, the plan is to merge the S-Class and EQS lines into one model, which should happen with the next-generation S-Class around 2029 or 2030, which will offer both ICEs and electric powertrains.

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