The carmaker behind the internal combustion engine has moved on to luxury electric cars

Mercedes-Benz, the German automaker known for pioneering the internal combustion engine, says electric cars will be the dominant vehicles on the road, especially luxury electric cars. The automaker’s CEO says he sees a step-by-step transition to luxury electric cars over the course of this decade.

On New Year’s Eve 1879, according to Mercedes-Benz, the first stationary gasoline engine went into operation for the first time. The single-cylinder two-stroke engine was developed by the German engineer Karl Benz.

Seven years later, on January 29, 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent for his “gas engine car” (model #1), which helped ignite the automobile industry.

Fast forward 100 years, and the auto industry is going through one of the most significant transitions since the mass production of gas-powered cars.

The transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles is happening faster than expected. As technology evolves to provide better range, more power and new features, consumers are switching faster than ever.

Sales of electric cars in the US broke another record first half of 2022, jumping to 196,788 to take 5.6% of the total market. Most automakers released their September sales results this week, and while sales of electric vehicles continue to rise, sales of gas-powered cars are down. For example, Ford said Sales in September 2022 shows a decline in total car sales of almost 9% from 2021. Toyota, GM, Stellantis, Honda, Nissan and others are seeing similar numbers.

Tesla, which makes only electric cars, has delivered a a record 343,000 EV in Q3, representing a 43% increase over Q3 2021.

Mercedes Benz sees this trend expanding as consumers increasingly switch to electric vehicles over internal combustion engines, especially luxury buyers.

The transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles is taking place

U an interview with CNBC’s Jim Cramer, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius said, “Step by step, we’re seeing the market transition” from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz plans to become an all-electric brand during this decade, launching an electric vehicle alternative for every model they offer until 2025. Additionally, all new vehicle architectures will be built for electric models only from 2025.

Callenius goes on to say that with luxury electric cars, the transition could happen faster than most expect, stating:

I truly believe that this decade will see us move from high-tech internal combustion engines to a dominant electric, if not all-electric, luxury segment.

Mercedes plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2039, working to reduce CO2 emissions throughout its supply chain through mineral recycling initiatives and sourcing components from IRMA-certified mines. The automaker recognizes that climate change is an issue that needs to be addressed.

We have all realized that climate change is real, the CO2 problem needs to be addressed. And how does this problem end? It ends up on the desks of our engineers.

As the transition to electric cars accelerates, Mercedes-Benz believes it’s better for the planet and can boost business.

We do it because we think it’s the right thing to do. But we also do it because we think it will be a better business. I don’t think there’s any question for a modern company, a visionary modern company, that we need to decarbonize.

The head of the German luxury car maker concluded by hinting that as electric cars develop, buyers will prefer them, stating:

As long as you give the customer a better product compared to what they had before, they are open to switching. The customer experience in terms of torque, performance, everything is fantastic.

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