A spy shot of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQE

By the end of 2022, Mercedes-Benz plans to produce at least 10 electric vehicles, one of which will be the EQE small sedan.

Prototypes of rivals Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4 have been spotted ahead of their 2021 debut; they are expected to appear in showrooms later that year as 2022 models.

Although the prototype is heavily camouflaged, it has been revealed that the EQE will have a similar design to the larger EQS model due to be unveiled later this year. A precursor to this design was the Mercedes Vision EQS concept car unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt International Motor Show.

The EQE will be similar in size to the C-Class, but its cabin should be as spacious as the E-Class. This is due to the benefits of the EQE's EV platform packaging, known as MEA2, with a flat battery in the floor and electric drive on both axles The MEA2 platform will debut in the production EQS.

Mercedes' current EVs are based on a modified version of a platform originally developed for internal combustion vehicles.

It is still unclear how large and powerful the EQE's batteries will be, but it is almost certain that Mercedes will improve the performance of the EQC, which in the EQC400 variant develops 402 hp and should have a range of about 200 miles, according to the EPA. The EQC400 will be powered by an 80 kWh lithium-ion battery.

Production of the EQE will take place at a newly built plant at Mercedes' headquarters in Sindelfingen, Germany. The high-tech facility, known as Factory 56, will be fully operational by the end of this year and will initially produce the updated S-Class. In addition, the Mercedes EQS and future self-driving cars will be produced here.

Mercedes is also developing the EQA and EQB compact SUVs.