It looks like Mercedes-Benz has reached an important realization: the EQS may have been technologically impressive, but it never truly felt like an S-Class. In a rare moment of honesty, the brand now seems ready to admit that the world—and more importantly, S-Class buyers—weren’t fully on board with the EQS’ bold, futuristic design. The solution? Retire the EQS altogether and bring electric luxury back under a name people already trust, with a fully electric S-Class planned for around 2030.
Back to What S-Class Buyers Actually Want
Mercedes has clearly listened to its customers. S-Class owners don’t just buy a car; they buy presence, confidence, and timeless elegance. The smooth, almost oval-shaped styling of the EQ models never quite delivered that sense of authority. Going forward, Mercedes plans to adopt a strategy similar to BMW’s approach with the 7 Series and i7.
That means one commanding exterior design shared by both combustion and electric versions of the S-Class. From the outside, they’ll look nearly identical—classic proportions, strong lines, and unmistakable luxury. Under the skin, however, the story changes. The electric S-Class will ride on the dedicated MB.EA platform, while petrol and hybrid versions will sit on a separate architecture designed specifically to extract the best possible performance from traditional powertrains.
A Lesson Learned the Hard Way: Let Buyers Decide
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius has been refreshingly direct about what went wrong. His message is simple: don’t force customers into a single choice. If the market isn’t fully electric yet—and it clearly isn’t—buyers should be free to choose between cutting-edge combustion engines and full EVs, without feeling like they’re compromising on luxury, design, or status. It’s a major shift in mindset, and one that feels overdue.
Serious Tech, Quietly Doing the Heavy Lifting
Even though the electric S-Class is still a few years away, early reports suggest Mercedes is preparing something special beneath the surface. One of the most exciting elements could be the use of axial-flux electric motors developed by Yasa, a company owned by Mercedes. These motors are smaller, lighter, and far more powerful than conventional designs, and are expected to debut first in extreme AMG models before filtering up to flagship luxury cars.
Battery technology is also expected to take a big step forward. Compared to the current EQS, the next electric S-Class should offer noticeably longer range and faster charging—two areas where luxury EV buyers expect nothing less.
