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Daimler Confirms Plans for EV to Rival Tesla Sedan

Daimler AG tells Automotive News Europe the company will introduce an electric luxury car in about three years to compete with Tesla Motors Inc.'s Model S sedan.
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Daimler AG tells Automotive News Europe the company will introduce an electric luxury car in about three years to compete with Tesla Motors Inc.'s Model S sedan.

Thomas Weber, the Daimler board member who heads Mercedes-Benz car development, tells the online newspaper the car will have a range of 400-500 km and be "unique and motional" in appearance. He adds the new model won't compete with electrified versions of the company's Smart minicars, B-Class sedans or gullwing SLS supercar.

Weber says the new car will use some of the aerodynamic features showcased in the Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile concept Mercedes unveiled this week at the Frankfurt auto show.

The upcoming Mercedes EV will be joined at about the same time by the all-electric sport sedan vehicle planned by Porsche AG and unveiled in concept form at the Frankfurt show as the Mission E. The four-seater, which targets a range of 500 km, will compete with Tesla's Model S sedan.

Audi AG also used the Frankfurt show to present an electric crossover vehicle expected to join its e-tron lineup of electrified vehicles in 2018. The all-wheel-drive vehicle will compete with the all-electric Model X crossover Tesla plans to launch in October.

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