Last year, 31% of the auto maker’s total sales went to fleets, a percentage Kevin Koswick contends represents “a balanced portfolio.”

While established OEMs are pressing ahead with EV rollouts, startups are burning out and valuable technology is being lost, critics charge.

The climate and wind-tunnel system simulates rain and snow and has controllable, full-spectrum sunshine simulation ranging from mild to desert conditions.

By taking advantage of higher output and common systems and components, Mercedes intends to offer a product costing slightly more than its competitors, but not 20%-30% bigger as was the case with the discontinued Vaneo.