Mercedes-Benz announced back in September its intention to release 10 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models by 2017 and the first two have now been revealed in the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID and C 350 PLUG-IN HYBRID.
Overnight in Detroit, on the eve of the 2015 North American International Auto Show, Mercedes has now confirmed the next model to receive its PHEV treatment will be the facelifted M-Class, which will emerge with a new name (GLE) and plug-in capability at the New York show in April.
Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche said PHEV versions of both the GLA and GLC were also in development, while Mercedes-Benz sales and marketing chief Ola Kallenius confirmed that plug-in GLC and GLS models will be revealed later this year.
That means that in addition to the C-Class and S-Class, by the end of this year Mercedes will also have at least revealed plug-in versions of the GLA, GLC, GLE and GLS.
Having just revealed the GLE Coupe, Mercedes will also unveil the GLE, GLC and GLS in 2015, which it describes as the "year of the SUV".
We understand the GLE Coupe will also receive the PHEV treatment, bringing the number of plug-in SUVs to five, but Mercedes' three other core passenger models – the A-Class, B-Blass and E-Class, which is about to be renewed – may not be next in line.
"The C-Class and E-Class are also already available with hybrid drive systems," said Mercedes R&D chief Prof Thomas Weber. "A number of other vehicles will follow in the coming years, featuring plug-in technology in particular.
"In the future, we will be offering plug-in hybrids from the C-Class upwards: this means 10 new externally chargeable hybrid models by 2017.
"In other words, we will be launching a plug-in hybrid every four months on average."
Mercedes already sells the C 300 and S 300 BlueTEC Hybrids in Australia, where the Audi A3 e-tron will become the nation's first plug-in luxury car, but the C 350 and S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID models remain under consideration.
Motoring.com.au understands the C 350 PHEV needs to be priced under $100,000 to be viable in Australia, where Mercedes remains reluctant to promote plug-in vehicles while the vast majority of energy comes from coal-fired power stations.
Weber said PHEV and pure-electric vehicles were both important technologies that complemented each other.
"While hybrid drives come into their own in larger vehicles and with mixed route profiles, battery-powered cars are at their most impressive in an urban environment.
Weber called on further government incentives for electric vehicle buyers in Germany, with the government there having set a target of one million EVs on the road by 2020.
"I am convinced that this is the only way we will be able to get more customers to switch to electric cars over the short and medium term."