The trickle of electric vehicles in this country has become a torrential downpour, and no sooner did Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) launch the EQA than it already moved on to its next big EV introduction. And by big, we really do mean it, as the company has started teasing the flagship EQS sedan.
As luck would have it, we stumbled upon the car on the official MBM website, where registrations of interest have already been opened. There’s been no information released on the local spec so far, but we can make some educated guesses.
Globally, the EQS is available in three regular variants. The single rear electric motor makes 215 kW (292 PS) and 565 Nm of torque in the base EQS 350, while the EQS 450+ bumps power up to 245 kW (333 PS). There’s also the EQS 580 4Matic, which comes with twin motors to provide all-wheel drive and total system outputs of 385 kW (523 PS) and 855 Nm. There’s also an AMG EQS 53 4Matic+ with up to 560 kW (761 PS) and a whopping 1,020 Nm, but that will likely receive a separate launch later on.
Seeing as the EQS is supposed to sit at the top of the range, you can forget the EQS 350 – not least because its 90.56 kWh lithium-ion battery gives it the shortest range of any EQS at up to 638 km. That’s still comfortably the furthest of any EV in Malaysia, mind.
More impressive is the 450+, which gets a 107.8 kWh battery to boost maximum range to a massive 785 km. Its power figure should be considered the bare minimum for the Malaysian market. The 580 trades some range for its performance, managing only 679 km in its most efficient form.
Given its flagship status, the Malaysian-spec EQS should be very well equipped, likely coming with Digital Light LED headlamps, rear entertainment screens, power-adjustable rear seats and an Android tablet integrated in the rear armrest, just like the S-Class. Also expected is the headlining MBUX Hyperscreen, a 56-inch curved display panel with three 12.3-inch and 17.7-inch displays.
The other question is where this car is going to be built. The home plant for the EQS is in Sindelfingen in Germany (where the S-Class is also built), but it will also be assembled in Samut Prakan in Thailand – in fact, the Land of Smiles also houses a Mercedes battery factory.
However, it wouldn’t make sense for Malaysia to get its EQS from Thailand, at least not yet. That’s because all EVs are currently exempt from import tax and excise duty, so there’s no pricing advantage to be had by importing from within the region. Perhaps when the CBU tax breaks end in 2024, the lower duties stemming from the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) will make the Thai-built car a little more attractive.
GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz EQS
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
merc is a joke nowadays