Mercedes will launch the MEQ sub-brand for its electric models

Mercedes is preparing its own electric sub-brand to compete with Tesla, the BMW i and the electric models that are being prepared by Audi. For this reason, Mercedes will launch a sub-brand, called MEQ, with its models to have the EQ prefix.

The names of the models that have been trademarked are EQA, the EQB until EQX but that does not mean that the company will release so many electric models. Mercedes has trademarked the names, so that the rights of these names are not taken by another company.

Apart from the names of the models, Mercedes patented various slogans such as “Generation MQ”, “EQ Boost” and “EQ inside” which are likely to be used during campaigns for the new electric models.

The EQS is expected to be the first electric car of the company that has as its main rival the Tesla Model S. The concept might be presented at the beginning of 2017, but its sales will not start earlier than 2019. In the Paris auto show, Mercedes will unveil a prototype electric crossover, with its production version coming in 2019 to compete with the Model X and the Audi Q6.

The new cars will be based on the Electric Vehicle Architecture platform only used in electric cars. Besides these two models, the company will introduce an additional saloon, an SUV, an electric Sprinter in 2018 and an electric truck in 2020.

The first new pure electric vehicle will be the new Smart ForTwo EV Coupe to be unveiled in October in Paris and after, the 2017 ForTwo EV Cabrio and ForFour EV.