Mercedes Unveils Ambitious 30-Car Launch Plan with 15 EVs in Next 2 Years

Mercedes-Benz plans to release 30 new vehicles over the next two years, including 15 electric vehicles, as part of its "biggest product launch program in history." Lamborghini has shelved its IMSA GTP program for 2026, and Jaguar Land Rover has named PB Balaji as its new CEO. Ercole Spada, the designer of iconic cars like the Aston Martin DB4 GT, has passed away at 88. Rivian is suing to sell its EVs directly to consumers in Ohio, while Honda, Toyota, and Mazda are preparing investors for significant losses due to tariffs and a strong yen.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has appointed PB Balaji as its new CEO, effective November. The appointment follows the retirement of Adrian Mardell after three years at the helm. Balaji, currently the group finance chief of JLR's parent company, Tata Motors, will be JLR's first Indian CEO [2].

The appointment coincides with significant industry shifts. Mercedes-Benz is planning to release 30 new vehicles, including 15 electric models, over the next two years as part of its "biggest product launch program in history" [Source not provided]. Meanwhile, Lamborghini has shelved its IMSA GTP program for 2026, and Ercole Spada, designer of iconic cars like the Aston Martin DB4 GT, has passed away at 88 [Source not provided].

JLR has been navigating challenges including a 15.1% drop in sales in the three months to June, largely due to the impact of Trump's tariffs. The company has also opened a voluntary redundancy scheme for up to 500 managers to save costs [1]. However, JLR has reported a profit for the past 10 consecutive quarters after a turnaround effort.

Balaji's appointment comes amidst a rebranding strategy that has drawn criticism, particularly in the US. The company's recent advert, designed to launch the rebrand, was criticized by former US President Donald Trump as "stupid and seriously WOKE" [1]. The advert, which showed a diverse group of models in brightly colored clothing, drew an online backlash, including comments from Elon Musk questioning the company's product offerings.

JLR has been slower than some of its rivals to embrace electric vehicles but has recently made investments in hybrid cars and is preparing for EV production. The company is also delaying the launch of its new electric Range Rover and electric Jaguar models to allow for more testing and to allow demand to pick up [1].

References:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/aug/05/trump-attacks-seriously-woke-jaguar-land-rover-new-ceo-pb-balaji
[2] https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/jaguar-land-rover-names-p-155536442.html