Electric Mercedes-Benz C-Class and GLC to arrive in 2026

Mercedes-Benz will add electric options to the C-Class and GLC-Class families in 2026, CEO Ola Källenius said last week during the company’s first-half financial results conference call. The timing suggests the electric vehicles could arrive in the U.S. as 2027 models.

Prototypes of an electric C-Class sedan and an electric GLC-Class crossover have been spotted previously, suggesting the vehicles will feature different styling, including a more aerodynamic shape, compared to their gas-powered brethren. AMG-tuned versions of the vehicles are also planned.

During the call, Källenius confirmed that the vehicles will use the company’s new dedicated MB.EA EV platform, Automotive News reported (subscription required). He also said their arrival should help boost Mercedes’ electric vehicle sales, which fell 25% year over year from 61,211 units to 45,843.

The MB.EA platform was first announced in 2021. A larger version, called the MB.EA Large, was in development to support successors to the EQE and EQS, though work was put on hold earlier this year. According to reports out of Germany, Mercedes will instead update the EVA2 platform used in the current EQE and EQS for the cars’ successors. The EQS successor is expected to arrive around 2028 with a more traditional sedan shape instead of the current Jelly Bean design.

2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class EV Spy Shots — Image Source: Baldauf

In addition to the MB.EA platform, Mercedes is planning the MMA platform for compact electric and hybrid vehicles, the AMG.EA platform for high-performance electric vehicles from AMG, and the Van.EA platform for light commercial vehicles with electric drive. The MMA platform will debut next year in the CLA-Class electric vehicle, while the AMG.EA platform is also set to debut next year in the successor to the GT 4-Door Coupe. Prototypes of both models are also being tested.

Mercedes in 2021 committed to exclusively selling electric vehicles by 2030. But slower-than-expected growth in demand for electric vehicles led the automaker in February to announce plans to keep gas-powered models on sale throughout the next decade. Similarly, Cadillac, which has also targeted an all-electric lineup by 2030, said in May that it would likely continue to sell gas-powered cars after that date.

Porsche also made comments last month that it no longer intends to target electric vehicle sales to reach 80% of total sales by 2030. The carmaker also confirmed that its best-selling Cayenne will continue to be available with petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains over the next decade, despite the launch of an electric Cayenne in the next year or two.