Status of Mercedes’ plush sedan and sports utility clarified in wake of limo’s recent update.

EXPECTATION that the recently unveiled Mercedes EQS sedan could re-set the premium electric car sector has been kiboshed by the brand - which says this model and its sister sports utility are no longer being considered for New Zealand sale.

Auckland-based Mercedes Benz New Zealand clarified this after initial publicity about the updated EQS speculated on a late 2026 arrival, to time with Australia’s announced launch plan.

Product planning for both countries is often mutual, and the NZ operation reports to the regional operation that locates in Melbourne.

But the response from a brand spokesperson that “we we are not taking delivery of the EQS going forward” reminds that each location can still make a final call.

Further questions to Mercedes Benz NZ about why the EQS cars are no longer considered useful here and if other big ticket electric models it has here are also under review have gone unanswered.

Registrations data suggests the EQS products were tough sells during their time here, not least after the end of 2023.

That’s when Government actions, a downturn in the economic condition and realisation by early adopters of all EVs about extremely poor residuals all caused the sector to fall into deep morass.

The decision about EQS comes as the sedan’s only rival out of Germany, the BMW i7, also receives an update (below).

In respect to the i7 50 xDrive that BMW has sold, the freshen means a dual motor car with 335kW/660Nm, fed by a 112.5kWh battery, with range of between 590km and 708km, which is well short of the EQS, for which a WLTP driving range of up to 925km is cited.

BMW NZ has yet to say if it intends to stick with i7, whose private buyer uptake has also been modest, though imprint has been better than the EQS achieved.

What factored for the BMW was acceptance as a Crown limousine, for use by Government ministers and visiting VIPs.

Ten xDrive60 editions with a retail price of close to $300,000 apiece were secured late last year, so half as many as the now retired diesel Seven Series that ran for some years.

Had Government gone for the Mercedes equivalent, they could have chosen between a $310,990 dual motor 484kW/950Nm EQS AMG 53 or a 265kW/800Nm 450 4Matic, for $218,700.