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Mercedes-Benz has opened its first public High-Power Charging site at a Starbucks in Red Bluff, California, marking the debut of its nationwide plan to pair ultra-fast EV chargers with major retail partners. The location sits directly on the I-5 corridor, one of the busiest long-distance routes on the West Coast, and features 400 kW DC fast chargers capable of adding up to 300 miles in around 10 minutes, depending on the vehicle. The chargers support both NACSand CCS, keeping the site open to al

Mercedes-Benz is taking a major step toward putting hydrogen long-haul trucking on real routes, not just test tracks. Daimler Truck says it will build a small series of 100 Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 semi-trailer tractors at its Wörth plant, with customer deployments starting at the end of 2026, positioning the program as a bridge between prototype development and full series production planned for the early 2030s.

Rethinking One of EVs’ Biggest Drawbacks Battery weight remains one of the biggest hurdles for EVs. Yes, larger packs offer better range, but they also add weight, hurting efficiency and handling. Solid-state batteries hold promise, but for now, automakers are rethinking how batteries are packaged. Mercedes-Benz is taking a different route. A recent patent (USPTO no. 12614774, published April 2026, if you want to check) lays out a new way to mount battery modules inside an EV pack. Instead of lo

Thanks to the magic of over-the-air updates, Mercedes-Benz is rolling out an array of exciting new features to over 700,000 vehicles across the globe. This is the MBUX 3.3 software update, and the focus is on enhancing the in-car experience for Mercedes customers. Crucially, the update doesn’t apply to the entire Mercedes lineup, but several core models equipped with the third generation of MBUX will be included. If you’re into in-vehicle entertainment options and enhanced productivity, this upd

In the stratosphere of ultra-high-net-worth luxury, true exclusivity is no longer defined by six-digit price tags or bespoke paint samples. It is defined by permission. With the introduction of the 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S680 Guard, the German automaker is shifting from a traditional luxury manufacturer to an elite, geopolitical gatekeeper. Money alone will no longer get you the goods; you now have to pass a background check.

Mercedes-Benz revealed its sales and earning numbers for 2025 this morning, and on the surface, things don’t look great for the German giant, which sold 9.2% fewer cars last year than it did in 2024. Coincidentally, 9.2% is also how far its revenue dropped over the same period – it made €132 million (around $157 million) in 2025 compared to €145.5 million (around $173 million) the year before. The factors the company blames for this drop in sales aren’t all that surprising – “global tariffs, for

Stopping the Buck Since 2024, Mercedes-Benz has experienced a slow but steady decline in sales. It dipped by 4 percent that year and fell by another 9 percent in 2025. Not wanting to see those numbers reach double-digits, the company is changing its strategy yet again. The solution? Appeal to the masses by going for the 'mainstream premium' crowd. Granted, Mercedes-Benz was always mainstream, but according to Car Magazine, the company nearly abandoned the entry-level luxury market. Back in 2022,

Enter the Mythos The world of luxury cars sells itself on the image of distinction and desire, where a car's level of perceived prestige can be a selling point in itself. In an effort to one-up its rivals, in 2022, Mercedes launched the Mythos Series; a sub-brand it positions higher than its Maybach ultra-luxury series of vehicles. At the time, Mercedes said that its Mythos Series models would be very low-volume vehicles, that "will be made available exclusively to the most dedicated enthusiasts

Mercedes-Benz Recall Report Flags Fire Risk in Nearly 12,000 EVs Mercedes-Benz has issued a safety recall affecting approximately 11,900 EQB electric SUVs in the United States after identifying a potential high-voltage battery fire risk. The recall covers select 2022–2024 EQB 250+, EQB 300 4MATIC, and EQB 350 4MATIC models equipped with battery cells supplied by Farasis Energy. According to the NHTSA filing, certain battery cells may be insufficiently robust at a high state of charge, increasing

Mercedes-Benz has long been one of the most respected luxury carmakers in the world. For decades, other automakers looked to the German brand and its European rivals for engineering leadership. Now, it seems the tables are turning. According to exclusive information gathered by Chinese outlet 36Kr, Mercedes-Benz is exploring a new electric vehicle platform that could rely on technology developed by Chinese automaker Geely. The two companies already share ties, with Geely holding a stake in Merce

In the most unlikely of mash-ups, Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks (a division of the Daimler giant) has revealed the most luxurious Unimog ever. If you don't know much about the Unimog, here's a quick recap. The name encompasses various multi-purpose all-wheel-drive vehicles, but the idea was conceived in 1944 when Germany was under occupation, and Unimogs have been produced since 1948. With its highly resilient power take-offs, as seen in tractors, for example, and its portal axles, the Unimog is

Mercedes-Benz teased the new VLE minivan last year, previewing it as a new take on high-end luxury. While luxury sedans and SUVs have traditionally been the first choices for well-heeled Merc fans who want nothing but the best, the VLE delivers comparable comfort but in the body of a more practical minivan. It’s a recipe that markets like China have appreciated, but no other true luxury minivan exists in the United States. Now that the covers have come off what Mercedes calls a grand limousine,

Mercedes-Benz has filed a new patent that could push in-car comfort into uncharted territory. While massaging seats are already common in the brand’s higher-end models, this latest concept shifts the focus upward – literally. The filing outlines a built-in scalp massage system and tries to masquerade it as a safety feature, saying it combats "muscle strain, fatigue, and headaches, which impair the driving experience." DPM

Regaining its Footing Mercedes-Benz's quest for profit at the expense of volume hadn't panned out. With that, the German automaker has pivoted its focus to sell more while securing the profits it needs for a greater product push. It's a tough ask, but the company has a plan. Under the new direction, Mercedes-Benz is targeting the 'mainstream premium' segment, a market that BMW and Lexus have been focused on for quite some time already. The folks from Sindelfingen now want a greater slice of that

Mercedes-Benz and its AMG and Maybach sub-brands are preparing for a massive vehicle onslaught in 2026, and they won't lift off next year either. 16 new vehicles will be unveiled this year, and nearly as many are coming in 2027. The particularly exciting news is that seven of these reveals, from entry-level to range-topping cars, will take place within the next three months, and while some will be EVs, the majority of the automaker's new arrivals will be combustion-powered as Mercedes looks to t

In 2023, as part of a push to minimize the expensive exercise of filling every possible niche, Mercedes-Benz combined the E-Class and C-Class coupes, creating the CLE. As we come to the end of 2025, the CLE is now reaching the middle of its lifecycle, and in 2026, a facelift will be necessary to keep its styling and capability in line with that of other, newer Benzes, like the all-new CLA. That means stars in its eyes (headlights), and some tech updates. Our spies have spotted a prototype of the

We're in the middle of the winter testing season, and several European automakers are evaluating their upcoming products in the coldest weather they can find, including Mercedes-Benz. The German automaker has been seen working on its first electric C-Class, a new, smaller version of the G-Class, and in these latest spy photos, the next generation of its smallest crossover, the Mercedes-Benz GLA. On a new platform, the GLA will be getting bigger, and the test mule in these images appears to be fa

Maybach V12 Soldiering On When Mercedes confirmed the V12 would live on in the Maybach S680, we car nuts had reason to celebrate. These days, downsizing and electrification are the default, so seeing a 12-cylinder luxury sedan stick around feels almost defiant. The V12 isn’t just an engine for Maybach – it’s part of what makes the brand special. There’s just something different about a flagship sedan with a big, twin-turbo V12 up front. But it’s not just enthusiasts who care. Real Maybach buyers

Mercedes-Benz revealed the new VLE minivan earlier this month, and it will give U.S. customers something different to consider in the luxury class. The VLE is set to become America’s most opulent minivan when it goes on sale, but something even more lavish is coming from Mercedes in the minivan segment. The company has just teased the all-new Mercedes-Maybach VLS, which means the Maybach sub-brand—considered a Bentley and Rolls-Royce competitor—will gain a minivan model for the first time. A Gra

Tailored for the Spotlight Following the unveiling of the new and facelifted Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, the German marque announced that the ultra-luxury sedan will serve as a hero vehicle as part of a global campaign tied to the upcoming sequel to 2006's The Devil Wears Prada. A one-off, film-inspired example has been created and customized through the brand’s Manufaktur program. For the uninitiated, The Devil Wears Prada is set in the world of fashion, with Meryl Streep playing Miranda Priestly

Mercedes-Benz is overhauling its electric vehicle strategy, abandoning single-source dependencies to sign a 10 trillion won ($6.8 billion) direct battery supply deal with Samsung SDI. This multi-year agreement centers on securing high-nickel NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) prismatic batteries, in the wake of Mercedes' unimpressive sales performance. Independently, both Mercedes and Samsung rank among the leading R&D investors globally. The automaker aims to secure a technical edge against riva

Earlier this year, Mercedes teased an extreme new AMG CLE under its Mythos sub-brand, a division dedicated to ultra-low-volume special editions, and now the Autoblog spies have snapped a development mule up close at the Nürburgring. First impressions? This will be a far more aggressive vehicle than anything in the BMW lineup, including the 543-horsepower M4 CSL, with plenty of aerodynamic aids and even a roll cage. Okay, the roll cage may only be there for on-track security during testing, but w

Mercedes-Benz has officially opened the order books for the all-electric C-Class in Europe, giving buyers their first look at pricing for the brand’s new luxury EV sedan. While BMW has yet to officially reveal pricing for the upcoming i3 sedan, Mercedes’ online configurator already shows the electric C-Class can climb well beyond $110,000 when heavily optioned. Electric C-Class Starts At Around $80,000 Mercedes-Benz

The 1320Video crew was back at it for the Merrill Ice Drags and the action did not disappoint. It was plenty cold, but thanks to clear skies and sunny conditions there was definitely some shine to the ice and the first couple of inches were definitely slushier than previous races this season. This is some special drag racing right here with everything from daily drivers to full on drag cars competing for bragging rights. Other than changing tires, these cars are pretty much the same as they woul

Every year the message is pretty similar, and on behalf of the Reynolds family, along with our amazing BangShift.com sponsors, I’d like to wish all of our friends and readers a very Merry Christmas. We also send a hearty Season’s Greetings from all the BangShift Contributors, who have given their weekends and evenings to us in pursuit of great content and coverage. But I’d also like to remind everyone out there that with all the stress, anger, and hatred we see in our daily lives nowadays, it is