Based strictly on past U.S. sales numbers, Mercedes-Benz has not been serious about hybrid cars. Between its Mercedes S400 Hybrid sedan and ML450 Hybrid SUV, the company sold 1,21 hybrid units in 2010—representing 0.6% of the overall hybrid market. Yet, Dr. Christian Mohrdieck, Daimler’s director of fuel cell and battery-drive development, last week told HybridCars.com that Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, is making a big investment in hybrids. “In the future, we will have hybrid models in all our car lines,” Mohrdieck said. “This is one step to reduce emissions and increase fuel economy.”
The blogosphere will a hundred times echo today's announcement that Mercedes-Benz will offer hybrid versions of its C-, E- and S-class vehicles in the United States and Europe in about three years. Automotive News quoted Herbert Kohler, head of Daimler's E-Drive and Future Mobility unit, who said, “We have a leading position in the premium segment concerning alternative propulsion systems, and we will defend it." Sound familiar? That’s because Daimler comments about future hybrids date back at least seven years.
Nearly 10 years since the first hybrids hit US roads, BMW and Mercedes both announced pricing this week for their first gas-electric hybrids arriving in showrooms this month. The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 will sell for $89,725. The Mercedes ML 450 Hybrid will only be offered on a lease of $659 a month for 36 months, or $549 a month for 60 months.
