Mercedes EQB - Electric 7-Seater SUV

Mercedes-Benz will be launching the EQB as its third electric vehicle in India, after the EQC and the EQS. We drove what will be the country’s first electric 7-seater in Germany ahead of its launch later this year to find out what it’s like

- Yogendra Pratap

Unlike some of the other German premium car companies, Mercedes-Benz was one of the later entrants into the electric vehicle space but the progress it has made since the launch of the EQ brand in 2016 has been quite astounding. The company has adopted a two pronged approach to expedite the launch of electric vehicles across the spectrum.

The first of its electric vehicles was the EQC, based on a modified platform of the GLC SUV, but has since also launched the EQS and EQE sedans, both based on a customised modular platform, the EVA, for electric vehicles. Following on its first approach of modifying existing platforms for EVs has already led to other electrified SUVs like the EQA and the EQB, which will, in all probability be its next electric vehicle launch in India.

The EQB is by itself based on the GLB that had its global premiere in the middle of 2019 in the USA and we were invited to witness the same. Meaning, that Mercedes had plans to introduce the GLB in India but COVID disrupted all the automotive companies’ launch plans and in the meantime the EQB was ready and launched globally in 2021.

The GLB is based on the MFA2 platform that Mercedes adopted for its range of front wheel drive vehicles and hence the EQB also has the same underpinnings from a modified MFA2 platform with the battery pack attached to the floor.