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Once-hailed ‘Tesla Killer’ Mercedes-Benz EQC sells less than 700 since launch: report
The Mercedes-Benz EQC, a vehicle once considered as a potential “Tesla Killer” and a legitimate threat to the Model X, has reportedly sold less than 700 units in its home country since it was launched. This was according to data from Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority, which stated that only 397 units of the EQC were sold in 2019 and 276 have been sold during the first four months of the year.
It should be noted that Mercedes-Benz has not disclosed any official sales numbers for its first modern all-electric vehicle. Nevertheless, the figures from the country’s Federal Motor Transport Authority were quite alarming. The EQC, after all, is not lacking in any advertisement from the veteran automaker. Parent company Daimler has not been one to shy away from its alleged focus on electric powered transportation, as evidenced by its “Electric First” slogan.
Yet despite this, the sales of the EQC have been incredibly underwhelming. As noted by German media outlet Handelsblatt, Daimler executives have described the EQC as a “pipe cracker” and its sales figures a “total disaster.” The news agency added that only one in about 400 customers in Europe have been opting for the all-electric SUV. And it’s worse in other countries. The EQC has not even been launched in the United States yet, with Mercedes-Benz pushing back the release of the vehicle to 2021, despite initial plans for a 2020 rollout.
Auto publication Mercedes-Fans.de was able to speak with some Mercedes-Benz dealers, and the sentiment about the EQC were equally negative. Dealers reportedly spoke about the vehicle’s sales as something that can be considered a “catastrophe,” while noting that there is simply “zero demand” for the all-electric SUV. This raises some questions, considering that the EQC was hyped by the automaker as its response to the rapidly-growing premium EV market that is currently dominated by American automaker Tesla.
What is interesting is that electric vehicles are actually picking up in Germany and Europe. The Audi e-tron, for example, was able to sell 4,500 units between May 2019 and April 2020. The Tesla Model 3 sold even more, with 8,700 being handed over to local customers over the same period. This all but shows that EVs from both veteran automakers and new companies can find some footing in Germany. The vehicles just have to be impressive and compelling for consumers.
The Mercedes-Benz EQC caught some headlines when it was launched. Then Daimler AG Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche noted that the company is “going all in” on EVs, since there is simply “no alternative to betting on electric cars.” The vehicle also looked quite promising, with plush interiors and impeccable build quality. Yet, even then, there were reservations about the EQC’s range and performance, which were rather conservative compared to rivals such as the Audi e-tron, Jaguar I-PACE, and the Tesla Model X.
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Tesla Cybercab tests are going on overdrive with production-ready units
Tesla is ramping its real-world tests of the Cybercab, with multiple sightings of the vehicle being reported across social media this week.
Tesla is ramping its real-world tests of the Cybercab, with multiple sightings of the autonomous two-seater being reported across social media this week. Based on videos of the vehicle that have been shared online, it appears that Cybercab tests are underway across multiple states.
Recent Cybercab sightings
Reports of Cybercab tests have ramped this week, with a vehicle that looked like a production-ready prototype being spotted at Apple’s Visitor Center in California. The vehicle in this sighting was interesting as it was equipped with a steering wheel. The vehicle also featured some changes to the design of its brake lights.
The Cybercab was also filmed testing at the Fremont factory’s test track, which also seemed to involve a vehicle that looked production-ready. This also seemed to be the case for a Cybercab that was spotted in Austin, Texas, which happened to be undergoing real-world tests. Overall, these sightings suggest that Cybercab testing is fully underway, and the vehicle is really moving towards production.
Production design all but finalized?
Recently, a near-production-ready Cybercab was showcased at Tesla’s Santana Row showroom in San Jose. The vehicle was equipped with frameless windows, dual windshield wipers, powered butterfly door struts, an extended front splitter, an updated lightbar, new wheel covers, and a license plate bracket. Interior updates include redesigned dash/door panels, refined seats with center cupholders, updated carpet, and what appeared to be improved legroom.
There seems to be a pretty good chance that the Cybercab’s design has been all but finalized, at least considering Elon Musk’s comments at the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting. During the event, Musk confirmed that the vehicle will enter production around April 2026, and its production targets will be quite ambitious.
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Tesla gets a win in Sweden as union withdraws potentially “illegal” blockade
As per recent reports, the Vision union’s planned anti-Tesla action might have been illegal.
Swedish union Vision has withdrawn its sympathy blockade against Tesla’s planned service center and showroom in Kalmar. As per recent reports, the Vision union’s planned anti-Tesla action might have been illegal.
Vision’s decision to pull the blockade
Vision announced the blockade in early December, stating that it was targeting the administrative handling of Tesla’s facility permits in Kalmar municipality. The sympathy measure was expected to start Monday, but was formally withdrawn via documents sent to the Mediation Institute and Kalmar Municipality last week.
As noted in a Daggers Arbete report, plans for the strike were ultimately pulled after employer group SKR highlighted potential illegality under the Public Employment Act. Vision stressed its continued backing for the Swedish labor model, though Deputy negotiation manager Oskar Pettersson explained that the Vision union and IF Metall made the decision to cancel the planned strike together.
“We will not continue to challenge the regulations,” Petterson said. “The objection was of a technical nature. We made the assessment together with IF Metall that we were not in a position to challenge the legal assessment of whether we could take this particular action against Tesla. Therefore, we chose to revoke the notice itself.”
The SKR’s warning
Petterson also stated that SKR’s technical objection to the Vision union’s planned anti-Tesla strike framed the protest as an unauthorized act. “It was a legal assessment of the situation. Both for us and for IF Metall, it is important to be clear that we stand for the Swedish model. But we should not continue to challenge the regulations and risk getting judgments that lead nowhere in the application of the regulations,” he said.
Vision ultimately canceled its planned blockade against Tesla on December 9. With Vision’s withdrawal, few obstacles remain for Tesla’s long-planned Kalmar site. A foreign electrical firm completed work this fall, and Tesla’s Careers page currently lists a full-time service manager position based there, signaling an imminent opening.
Tesla Semi Program Director Dan Priestly teased the major improvements to the all-electric Class 8 truck on Thursday night, following the company’s decision to overhaul the design earlier this year.
Priestley said he drove the Semi on Thursday, and the improvements appear to be welcomed by one of the minds behind the project. “Our customers are going to love it,” he concluded.
Just drove the redesigned Semi. Our customers are going to love it. https://t.co/KZ88sf1CDL
— Dan Priestley (@danWpriestley) December 19, 2025
The small detail does not seem like much, but it is coming from someone who has been involved in the development of the truck from A to Z. Priestley has been involved in the Semi program since November 2015 and has slowly worked his way through the ranks, and currently stands as the Director of the program.
Tesla Semi undergoes major redesign as dedicated factory preps for deliveries
Tesla made some major changes to the Semi design as it announced at the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting that it changed the look and design to welcome improvements in efficiency.
Initially, Tesla adopted the blade-like light bar for the Semi, similar to the one that is present on the Model Y Premium and the Cybertruck.
Additionally, there are some slight aesthetic changes to help with efficiency, including a redesigned bumper with improved aero channels, a smaller wraparound windshield, and a smoother roofline for better aero performance.
All of these changes came as the company’s Semi Factory, which is located on Gigafactory Nevada’s property, was finishing up construction in preparation for initial production phases, as Tesla is planning to ramp up manufacturing next year. CEO Elon Musk has said the Semi has attracted “ridiculous demand.”
The Semi has already gathered many large companies that have signed up to buy units, including Frito-Lay and PepsiCo., which have been helping Tesla test the vehicle in a pilot program to test range, efficiency, and other important metrics that will be a major selling point.
Tesla will be the Semi’s first user, though, and the truck will help solve some of the company’s logistics needs in the coming years.
Tesla Cybercab tests are going on overdrive with production-ready units
Tesla gets a win in Sweden as union withdraws potentially “illegal” blockade
