By Drew Johnson
Monday, Jul 2nd, 2012 @ 6:25 pm
 
Mercedes-Benz will market a version of its upcoming B-Class electric vehicle in the United States, a company source has confirmed. Mercedes previously announced it was co-developing an electric version of its B-Class hatchback with Tesla, but kept mum on sales plans.

Although Mercedes has yet to make an official announcement on the subject, an unnamed source at Daimler revealed to Automobilwoche, a sibling publication of Automotive News, that the electric B-Class is U.S.-bound.

"Zero-emission vehicles receive more favorable classifications and higher incentives than vehicles with a range extender," the source said. "This is especially an issue in the U.S."

The electrically-powered B-Class will arrive in U.S. showrooms sometime in 2014. Mercedes was also planning a range-extending plug-in hybrid version of the B-Class to launch around the same time, but Mercedes has reportedly moved that program to the back burner.

Tesla will supply Mercedes with electric motors, batteries and other components for the plug-in B-Class.
  

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