Mercedes explains why its electric cars are shaped in a 'weird' way

Ever since Mercedes launched its EQS flagship, people have been arguing over the way it looks.

The futuristic Vision EQS concept promised drama and presence but the production car came out softer, rounder, almost bubble-like.

Fans quickly dubbed it the ‘jellybean,’ and not in a good way.

Now Mercedes is finally explaining why its EVs look that way.

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Why the Mercedes EVs look like a ‘jellybean’

When the EQS landed in 2021, it didn’t look like any Mercedes sedan before it. 

Instead of traditional proportions, it carried a swoopy profile shaped by efficiency.

And that rounded silhouette quickly drew comparisons to a jellybean (see for yourself in the video above).

The smaller EQE followed the same recipe, making it clear this wasn’t a design fluke but a conscious direction.

That direction was all about maximizing efficiency. 

Every curve was tuned to reduce drag and stretch range, a crucial play at a time when buyers still measured EVs by every extra mile. 

But aerodynamics weren’t the only factor.

Mercedes’ Chief Technology Officer Markus Schäfer explained that the styling was deliberate, meant to appeal to a very specific customer base. 

“Early adopters wanted to be different… now we’re entering the mainstream and mass adoption, and customers don’t want to show that they’re driving an EV,” he told WhichCar. 

In other words, the jellybean look was a badge of honor… until it wasn’t.

BMW read the situation differently. 

Its electrics were barely distinguishable from their combustion siblings, with only subtle changes to separate the two. 

And now Mercedes is moving in that same direction. 

The upcoming electric CLA, EQC, and next-gen C-Class will mirror their ICE twins, even if the platforms underneath are completely different.

The end of the EQ jellybean, what comes next

The pushback to Mercedes’ rounded EVs has been loud enough that even the design boss has weighed in. 

Gorden Wagener still defends the EQS as ‘purposeful and very progressive,’ but says it was launched ‘10 years too early’.

Right car, wrong time? That’s what they’re saying.

That timing is now being corrected. 

The EQS is getting a facelift to extend its run, but the EQE will retire in 2026, replaced by a true electric E-Class. 

Further out, the EQS and S-Class are destined to merge into a single flagship line, likely around 2029 or 2030, ending the split identity once and for all.

The pivot is already underway. 

The newly revealed electric GLC shows the next chapter.

A car that looks familiar even if it runs on batteries. 

And beyond the design language, Mercedes is aiming higher with solid-state batteries targeted for 2030. 

If that tech lands on schedule, it’ll redefine the lineup far more than any facelift ever could.

The jellybean days are numbered. 

Mercedes is done making EVs that look different – the next wave is built to blend in.

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