Tesla has abandoned the Model S and Mercedes wants to fill the high-end EV void

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.It was a good run, but now it’s over. Now, another car company wants to fill the gap.In January, Tesla announced plans to stop production of its high-end Model S and X vehicles, choosing to turn that manufacturing capacity in Fremont, California, into a line dedicated to humanoid robot production. Car production stopped in May.

Tesla is delivering its final “Signature” versions of the S and X this month. It’s the end of an era for electric vehicles. The Model S has been made for about 14 years.

It was the first truly desirable EV. The “Plaid” version, capable of accelerating from zero to 60 miles per hour in about two seconds, was launched in 2021.The loss of the S leaves a gap in the EV market that Mercedes-Benz Group wants to fill. On Tuesday evening, the German auto maker closed part of a Los Angeles highway to unveil its Mercedes AMG GT four-door coupe.Three axial flux motors are capable of delivering 1,153 horsepower and are also capable of going from zero to 60 miles per hour in about two seconds.

Charging times can be as little as 10 minutes. And software can make it feel as if the driver is controlling a V-8 engine. Mercedes starts selling the 2027 model year vehicle later in 2026.In an axial flux motor, the electromagnetic field is parallel to the motor’s axis of rotation, instead of perpendicular in a conventional electric motor.

The design enables higher power and torque density.It’s an impressively engineered, high-end car. Pricing wasn’t disclosed in the news release, but potential buyers can expect to pay six figures.While Tesla is leaning into AI applications such as robo-taxis and robots, Mercedes is still investing in EV technology. The new AMG alone isn’t enough to