Mercedes to Kill B-Class EV

Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz unit will discontinue its slow-selling B-Class Electric Drive at the end of the 2017 model year.

The carmaker has sold fewer than 3,700 of the tiny EVs in the U.S. since launching the vehicle in December 2013, Automotive News notes. Sales initially were limited to California and other states with zero-emission vehicle mandates before the vehicle was made available nationwide.

The B-Class stickered for $41,000 (before federal and state incentives) and had a driving range of just 90 miles.

Production of the B-Class EV will be halted at Mercedes’ plant in Rastatt, Germany, which will be retooled to produce the company’s next-generation of compact vehicles next year. Mercedes will continue to produce the traditional piston-powered versions of the B-Class for sale in Europe and select export markets other than the U.S, AN says.

No direct replacement of the electric B-Class is planned, but Daimler says it will launch 10 EVs by 2022 as part of the company’s new EQ sub-brand. One of the first models—an electric hatchback—is expected to be unveiled in concept form at next month’s Frankfurt auto show.