BERLIN (Reuters) – Mercedes-Benz unveiled its EQS sport utility car (SUV) on Tuesday, a 660 km (410-mile) vary automotive that will likely be made in America and go on sale by autumn.

Manufacturing of the EQS, the premium carmaker’s second electrical SUV after its EQC, will start at its plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama this yr.

The USA and Canada are anticipated to be the primary markets for the brand new car, in line with gross sales chief Britta Seeger, although it’ll even be launched in Europe earlier than the tip of the yr.

Mercedes-Benz has not disclosed how a lot the brand new SUV will likely be bought for, although its current EQS electrical sedan begins at round $103,000 in america.

Three-quarters of recent automotive gross sales within the U.S. market final yr have been vehicles and SUVs, posing a problem for carmakers in search of to scale back their carbon footprint whereas needing to fulfill buyer demand for giant autos.

In a bid to localise its manufacturing chain, Mercedes-Benz opened its first U.S. electrical car battery manufacturing facility in Tuscaloosa in March.

The corporate bought 21,900 fully-electric autos worldwide within the first quarter of 2022, 3 times greater than in the identical interval final yr, at the same time as total deliveries throughout all autos fell 15%.

Simply 2.3% of Mercedes-Benz’ automotive gross sales final yr have been battery-electric autos, rising to 11% together with plug-in hybrids, which have each an engine and a battery.