Electric Mercedes C-Class debuts on the MB.EA platform

Mercedes held the world debut of the electric C-Class on April 20, 2026. The launch version is the Mercedes, a dual-motor sedan built on the MB.EA 800-volt platform.

What has been confirmed

Mercedes has confirmed the electric C-Class as a new model sitting alongside the combustion C-Class rather than replacing it. The launch variant pairs a 94 kWh (net) battery with a 350 kW DC charging peak and a WLTP range of 762 km (474 miles). Peak output is 360 kW (483 hp) and 800 Nm, and Mercedes quotes a 0-100 km/h of 4.0 seconds. A single-motor rear-wheel-drive version with a longer WLTP range is on the roadmap, but Mercedes has not fixed a debut date for it.

Platform and size

The car rides on the MB.EA architecture, the same dedicated 800 V platform that carries the new electric GLC. Mercedes has positioned the electric C-Class as a sedan counterpart to that SUV rather than as a direct replacement for the ICE C-Class. The sedan measures 4,883 mm long with a 2,962 mm wheelbase and stands 1,503 mm tall — shorter than the EQE saloon but on a noticeably longer wheelbase than the current combustion C-Class, which is what the flat-floor EV packaging allows.

Battery, charging and drivetrain

The Mercedes uses a 100 kWh gross / 94 kWh net lithium-ion battery. The pack is built from NMC prismatic cells in a 196s1p configuration split across four modules. DC charging peaks at 350 kW on an 800 V station, and the published charge curve holds above 300 kW from roughly 2% to 20% state of charge — the kind of plateau a 22-minute 10-80% window needs. AC charging runs to 11 kW as standard or 22 kW optional.

The drivetrain is a dual-motor setup with permanent-magnet machines on both axles, and the rear motor uses a two-speed transmission — the same approach Porsche and Audi use on the Taycan and e-tron GT to balance launch torque with motorway efficiency. Peak regen is 300 kW, with blended brakes and lift-off or paddle-controlled levels.

Lower trims — reported as C 200, C 250, C 300, and C 300+ — are expected to use 64 kWh and 85 kWh battery sizes, but Mercedes has not yet published the full lineup. The rear-drive long-range version is expected to clear 800 km WLTP, though that figure is tied to a specific trim Mercedes has not officially named.

Interior, technology and chassis

The cabin is the most visible break from the outgoing C-Class. A wall-to-wall glass display runs across the dashboard, replacing the split driver-and-centre arrangement used in the current model. On the outside, the car leans on a vertical grille graphic referencing older Mercedes saloons rather than the blanked EQ nose of the EQS and EQE.

Multilink suspension is standard at both ends on steel coils, with Airmatic air suspension offered as an option — it raises ground clearance to 190mm and drops to 129 mm at speed. Rear-wheel steering is on the options list. Mercedes has released cabin images but has not yet detailed the infotainment software stack, sound system options, or the driver-assistance package that will ship at launch.

Charging ports and regional spec

The port sits on the left rear. European cars get CCS2, while North American cars ship with the NACS connector from launch. Vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home functions are offered as options on top of the standard vehicle-to-load outlet.

Launch timing and expected pricing

Mercedes has set the U.S. launch of the C 400 4MATIC for the first half of 2027, with European sales following in a similar window. Pricing has not been announced in any market. Reporting from the debut event points to a U.S. starting price near $55,000 for the C 400, but that figure is not from Mercedes and should be treated as an estimate until the configurators open.

What is still unknown

Mercedes has not confirmed the full trim lineup, the exact battery sizes across lower trims, curb weight, tow rating, or the specification of the rear-drive long-range model. Software details, driver-assistance tiers, and AMG variants are also still open. Pricing is unconfirmed in every market.

This article will be updated as more details are released.