Mercedes unveils electric GLC that mirrors petrol model and adds AI 'superbrain'

Mercedes-Benz unveiled an all-electric version of its best-selling GLC SUV at the Munich Mobility Show, keeping the model’s conventional proportions while introducing a new EV architecture and an AI-driven operating system.

The GLC EV is the first vehicle in a new family built on Mercedes’ MB.MA electric-vehicle platform and uses an 800‑volt electrical architecture. Mercedes says the model will be offered with a 94 kWh usable battery that can deliver up to 443 miles of range under the company’s test metrics and supports peak charging at 330 kW. Mercedes estimates a 10-minute charge at compatible high-power chargers could add roughly 186 miles, a scenario that depends on charging equipment availability in markets such as the U.K.

Mercedes kept the new GLC visually close to its internal-combustion counterpart, retaining classic midsize-SUV proportions with sculpted shoulders and pronounced wheel arches, and a redesigned illuminated grille. The EV is roughly the same overall length as the petrol GLC but has an 84 mm longer wheelbase, which Mercedes says yields modest gains in passenger space: 13 mm more front legroom and 46 mm more front headroom, plus 47 mm more rear legroom and 17 mm more rear headroom. Cargo capacity is 570 litres in the rear and an additional 128-litre front trunk.

The company highlighted several practical features aimed at mainstream usability, including bi-directional charging, a towing capacity of 5,291 pounds, and an electric drivetrain tuned for fast charging. Mercedes also described a new “one-box” brake system that integrates regenerative braking software with friction brakes.

Mercedes emphasized the vehicle’s software and interior technology as central to the launch. The GLC EV debuts MB.OS, described by the company as an AI-driven "superbrain" designed to interact naturally with occupants and learn driver preferences over time. The software is paired with a new MBUX hyperscreen that spans 39.1 inches — the largest display Mercedes has fitted to date. Interior options include newly designed high-end seats and a Vegan Package certified by The Vegan Society; Mercedes said it is the first automaker to offer an independently certified animal-cruelty-free interior.

Active-driver aids include adaptive suspension that uses map data to pre-emptively adjust over potholes, a so-called "transparent bonnet" function that conveys objects beneath the front wheels to the display, and semi-autonomous parking assistance. Mercedes said the car’s driver-assistance features and adaptive systems are part of an effort to merge software-driven services with vehicle hardware.

Mercedes positions the new GLC EV to compete with recent entries from BMW, Audi and Porsche in the midsize-electric SUV segment, where rivals include the BMW iX3, Audi Q6 and the electric Porsche Macan. Unlike many recent EVs that adopt radical styling to signal electrification, the GLC EV retains the GLC nameplate and a conventional SUV silhouette, a strategy Mercedes described as offering a familiar face with electrified underpinnings.

Production of the GLC EV will take place in Bremen, Germany, and Mercedes said the model is due to go on sale in early 2026. Pricing has not been announced; Mercedes noted that buyers can expect the electric GLC to carry a premium over the brand’s current petrol GLC, which starts in the mid‑£50,000s in the U.K. Further specifications, regional powertrain options and precise pricing will be confirmed ahead of market launch.