Some of you may have been surprised at the launch of another Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrid, the GLE400e, despite the slow sales of these petrol-electric models in Malaysia. But Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) is doubling down on its commitment to this niche, saying it offers customers “the luxury of choice.”
Commenting on this at the press conference as part of the launch yesterday, Nadia Trimmel, the company’s marketing and sales vice president, said that its buyers’ tastes for different products are changing and evolving over time, and the introduction of the GLE400e gives it the opportunity to gauge the demand for electrified vehicles in the large SUV segment.
“We believe there is potential for this product,” she added. “Plug-in hybrids will always be in transition to the world of full electrification, and we remain committed to this strategy in the long term, where market conditions allow.”
Still, the company is hedging its bets by introducing milder hybrid models (as pure-petrol Mercs are being phased out globally) at the lower end of the segment, in response to minimal demand for PHEVs. In recent months, MBM has launched the C200 AMG Line and yesterday the GLC200 AMG Line alongside the GLE400e, in an effort to boost sales of its compact executive vehicles.
According to MBM president and CEO Amanda Zhang, the move is part of Stuttgart’s broader strategy to diversify its offering in response to declining demand for electric vehicles, with more than 40 models set to be launched over the next three years. “That’s why we do both [EV and internal combustion engine] platforms, giving customers the choice between ICE, plug-ins and EVs. This is what we call the ‘luxury of choice’.
To recap, the RM498,888 GLE400e is the most affordable model in the GLE range as it is RM46,000 cheaper than the mild hybrid GLE450. Power comes from a 252 hp/400 Nm 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine and a 156 hp/440 Nm electric motor, integrated into the nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox, for a combined output of 381 hp/650 Nm. A 31 kWh battery provides a fully electric range of 114 km according to the WLTP cycle.
GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz GLE400e in Malaysia
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