Mercedes-Benz abandons B-Class Electric Drive to concentrate on EQ electrics

Mercedes-Benz is abandoning its slow-selling B-Class Electric Drive hatchback after the 2017 model year, concentrating its electric car efforts mainly on its EQ range instead.

That was confirmed by Mercedes-Benz USA spokesman Rob Moran to Automotive News, with the B-Class (also known as the B250e) production being phased out in the third quarter and no replacement details.

Mercedes will stop B-Class Electric Drive assembly in Rastatt, Germany, converting the plant to produce compact vehicles in 2018, Moran says. It will continue to produce petrol and diesel-powered versions of the B-Class hatchback.

About 3651 of the B-Class Electric Drive have been sold since December 2013.

“Due to our strategic focus on [connectivity, autonomous driving, sharing and electric drive systems] for the mobility of the future, we are planning the step-by-step electrification of our portfolio,” Moran says. “Moreover, we are evaluating the production of our new generation of electric vehicles at all of our locations of Mercedes-Benz Cars.”

Parent company Daimler AG plans to bring more than 10 new electric cars out by 2022, many under the EQ sub-brand.