Benz says this Chinese-market special was “too complex,” but we think it was just too damn weird.
Remember back in 2018 when Mercedes-Benz pulled the sheet off its Vision Mercedes-Maybach “Sport Utility Sedan” concept? We know it’s been a while, but the sight of the oddly shaped luxury hotel suite on wheels is still somewhat burned into our minds. Despite being slated as a Chinese-market exclusive, we were looking forward to seeing how over the top Mercedes-Benz would go. However, it seems we won’t ever get the chance.
Six years after the Vision Mercedes-Maybach was revealed, a report indicates that the German automaker has decided to put the project on ice. As a reminder, this vehicle was called a “Sport Utility Sedan” due to its unique blend of sedan design elements within a tall SUV-like frame. Mercedes-Benz believed that this design choice would appeal to Chinese luxury car consumers.
The Vision Mercedes-Maybach was expected to be built on the automaker’s EVA2 platform, currently used for the EQE and EQS sedan and SUV models. The vehicle was planned to produce 750 horsepower and deliver a driving range exceeding 200 miles. Nevertheless, the primary focus of the Vision Mercedes-Maybach was to provide luxurious amenities—such as a tea set complete with a heated tray to keep the teapot warm for rear passengers.
Why did Mercedes-Benz decide to put this electric vehicle on hold? In a surprising turn of events, it was reported that the ultra-luxurious, Chinese-exclusive electric “SUS” is considered “too complex and expensive to build.” While initially shocking, it appears that the Vision Mercedes-Maybach may not have performed well even if the project continued. Beyond its exterior design and unique teapot feature, does this EV truly offer anything distinct that Chinese customers could not already access through the existing EQE or EQS variants?
Ultimately, the unusual shape, impressive horsepower, and plush interior might have been the only strong points this EV had. It is likely that it would have been perceived more as a novelty than a bestseller in the competitive luxury vehicle segment. Similar past attempts, such as the Lincoln Blackwood or other sport-ute sedans, have proven that unique designs often struggle to find a solid market position. In this case, it seems that Benz has wisely chosen to halt the project before it could become a problematic launch.
