AMG CEO: V8 Buyers Will Have No Problem Switching To Electric
Giancarlo Perlas October 4, 2024- Mercedes-AMG CEO Michael Schiebe claimed buyers will have no problem ditching V8 in favor of electric powertrains.
Mercedes-AMG CEO Michael Schiebe previously admitted that customers need some time to get excited for electric technology. He added that it’s important for them to be open-minded.
AMG CEO: People Will Move on From V8 to EV
Fast-forward recently, the AMG boss continued his rather controversial electrification narrative. According to Schiebe, buyers will have no problem switching from a big V8 engine to electric.
“Customers who came to the brand because of the V-8 did not come because they just wanted to have a big engine,” explained Schiebe in an interview with Autocar UK. “They came because they loved the technology that we put into the car.”
“So when it comes to electric driving, I’m pretty sure they will jump into that new technology because it will be the latest and greatest that you can get,” he added.
For short, the AMG head honcho suggests that buyers are actually after technology instead of high-performance engines. He believes they will likely embrace electric vehicles (EVs) equipped with the latest technology.
Like Shifting from Keyboard Phones to Smartphones
Mercedes-Benz Australia CEO Jaime Cohen somehow shared the same sentiment as Schieber. During the launch of the V8-powered Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 in the Land Down Under, he expressed confidence that most people will eventually decide to transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) cars to EVs. He likened the shift to the way consumers eventually moved away from mobile phones with keyboards in favor of smartphones.
“So that progress takes some time, and in the end, it is successful because it is a a good product and that is what convinces people,” Cohen pointed out in a conversation with Autralia-based Carsales.
Mercedes to Continue Offering the V8
On the bright side, AMG confirmed it is still working on new V8 engine models amid the slow turnaround of Mercedes’ EV sales. Spy shots suggest that the upcoming AMG CLE 63 will carry the power unit.
