Electric Mercedes-Benz C-Class and GLC-Class coming in 2026

Mercedes-Benz will add electric options to its C-Class and GLC-Class families in 2026, CEO Ola Kellenius said last week during an earnings call outlining the company's first-half results. The timing suggests that the electric cars could appear in the U.S. as 2027 models

Prototypes of the electric C-Class sedan and electric GLC-Class crossover have been spotted previously, and compared to their gasoline-powered siblings, the more aerodynamic suggesting that they will feature different styling, including a shape. An AMG-tuned version is also planned.

Automotive News (subscription required) reported that Kerenius confirmed during the call that these vehicles will use the new EV-specific platform MB.EA. He also said that the launch of these EVs should boost Mercedes' EV sales, which have fallen 25% year over year, from 61,211 to 45,843 units.

The MB.EA platform was first unveiled in 2021; a larger version, called the MB.EA Large, was being developed to underpin the EQE and EQS successors, but work was halted earlier this year. According to reports from Germany, Mercedes will instead update the EVA2 platform used in the current EQE and EQS for its successor; the EQS's successor is expected to arrive around 2028 in a more traditional sedan shape rather than the current model's jellybean design reportedly.

In addition to the MB.EA platform, Mercedes is planning the MMA platform for compact EVs and hybrids, the AMG.EA platform for AMG's high-performance EVs, and the Van.EA platform for electric light commercial vehicles.The MMA platform will debut next year with the CLA-class EV, and the AMG.EA platform will debut next year with the successor to the GT 4-door coupe. Prototypes of both models are also being tested.

As recently as 2021, Mercedes promised to sell only EVs as early as 2030. However, demand for EVs has been slower than expected, and in February Mercedes announced plans to continue selling gasoline engine models through the next decade. Similarly, Cadillac had said it was aiming for a fully electric vehicle lineup by 2030, but in May said it would likely continue to sell gas-powered vehicles beyond that date.

Porsche also commented last month that it is no longer meeting its goal of having EV sales reach 80% of total sales by 2030. Porsche also confirmed that gas and plug-in hybrid powertrains will still be available for its top-selling Cayenne a decade from now, even though an electric Cayenne will be available next year or the year after.