WATCH | Mercedes-Benz aims to be fully electric by 2030 with Tesla firmly in its sights

• Mercedes-Benz plans to have a full electric line-up by 2030.

• By 2022, the brand will have battery electric vehicles (BEV) in all segments.

• Volvo and Jaguar are other automakers moving towards a full electric range.

• For more motoring stories, visit Wheels24.

If any indication was needed to know just how fast the transition from normal combustion to electric vehicles is going globally, Mercedes-Benz plans to only have electric vehicles in its line-up by 2030.

The German automaker is the latest brand to announce its plans for full electric mobility. Volvo is another that will launch a full EV every year, making all-electric cars 50% of global sales by 2025.

Ola Källenius, CEO of Daimler and Mercedes-Benz, says: "The EV shift is picking up speed - especially in the luxury segment, where Mercedes-Benz belongs. The tipping point is getting closer, and we will be ready as markets switch to electric-only by the end of this decade."

Mercedes-EQ, EQS 580 4MATIC

Daimler Media

Tide is turning

A total investment of over €40-billion will be made into battery electric vehicles between 2022 and 2030, bringing forth a tipping point for EV adoption. By 2022, the brand will have battery electric vehicles (BEV) in all segments.

Set to be introduced in 2025, the brand has laid out three electric-only architectures:

• MB.EA will cover all medium to large size passenger cars.

• AMG.EA will be a dedicated performance electric vehicle platform.

• VAN.EA geared towards electric vans and Light Commercial Vehicles.

READ | SA's most favourite vehicles in 2021? A German brand, a bakkie and a hot hatch

South Africa is still very much in its infancy, where EVs are concerned with local motorists yet to buy into and fully grasp the concept. Furthermore, there is also limited infrastructure to cater for these types of vehicles.

Currently, South Africa only has a handful of electric vehicles available: Porsche's Taycan, Mini Cooper SE, Jaguar I-Pace, BMW i3. While the Nissan Leaf is available on the used market, it is not currently for sale as new models. Audi has announced its e-tron arrives in 2022, along with BMW's first electric SUV, the iX3.