Electric Mercedes S-Class set to replace EQS, with ICE and EV options

Mercedes is preparing an all-electric version of the S-Class that is ultimately intended to replace the EQS, a model once positioned as the flagship of the brand’s electric range but one that fell short in both sales and public perception. The S-Class with EQ Technology will not arrive anytime soon: the launch has reportedly been pushed back by several years, while a full new generation of the S-Class is expected closer to the end of the decade. Given how the EQS landed with buyers, the rethink doesn’t come as a surprise.

Importantly, the eighth-generation S-Class will be offered in two formats from the outset—powered by internal-combustion engines and as a fully electric model. This marks a shift away from Mercedes’ earlier strategy of creating an electric twin to replace a traditional nameplate. Instead, the brand is following BMW’s lead by preserving customer choice and moving EV versions to the new MB.EA architecture. It reads as a pragmatic step that aligns with how the market is actually evolving.