Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) previously confirmed that Locally Assembled (CKD) EQ models are on the wayand the eqs it’s the first model in the German brand’s range of electric vehicles (EVs) to roll off the assembly line here.
As was the case with the CKD A-Class Sedan, production data released by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) revealed that local production of the EQS has already started at MBM’s Pekan plant. The report mentions that 27 units of Mercedes-Benz’s flagship EV sedan were produced in November 2022, but they are not the EQS450+ variant (pictured here) which was released in fully imported (CBU) form last July.
Instead, the CKD cars are the more powerful EQS500 4Matic, boasting increased outputs of 449 PS (443 hp or 330 kW) and 855 Nm of torque from its all-wheel drive, twin-motor electric powertrain. By comparison, the EQS450+ is rear-wheel drive only and has 333PS (329PS or 245kW) and 568Nm, enabling a 0-100km/h time of 6.2 seconds (the EQS500 4Matic completes the sprint of the century in 4.8 seconds). ).
Both variants share the same lithium-ion battery with a useful energy capacity of 107.8 kWh (120 kWh gross), although the EQS450+ offers more range at 782 km following the WLTP. The EQS500 4Matic, which was introduced globally in May last yearIt will go 685 km on a single charge, so range is sacrificed for performance.
The EQS450+ supports AC charging (Type 2 connection) up to 11 kW and will go from 10 to 100% State of Charge (SoC) in ten hours. There is also DC fast charging support (CCS2 connection) up to 200 kW, so a SoC of 10-80% is achieved in just 31 minutes. These times should be the same for the EQS500 4Matic given the identical battery capacity.
With the current incentives for CBU electric vehicles, the EQS450+, which is dressed in the AMG Line kit, is priced at RM698,888 on the road without insurance. If Thailand is any indication, the CKD EQS500 could be priced less than the CBU variant when it goes on sale here.
The EQS was launched in Thailand last May and was initially available on two CBU variants – both based on the EQS450+ – priced at 8.57 million baht (around RM1.1 million). Later in November the CBU variants were dropped and replaced with the EQS500 4Matic AMG Premium which had a more affordable price of 7.9 million baht (about RM1 million).
For now, MBM hasn’t confirmed the existence of the EQS500 in the local lineup or even pricing, so we’ll have to wait for an official announcement. The main rival of the BMW EQS is the i7which has been sighted in malaysia and is expected to be released this year, though whether it will be a CBU or CKD offering is unknown. How much do you expect the CKD EQS500 to retail for?
GALLERY: 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ AMG Lineup
