Porsche and Mercedes are preparing to take on Tesla

While German automakers are certainly no strangers to high-end electric vehicles, they tend to focus more on supercars than sedans, which is a problem when Tesla Motors is encroaching on their business. However, according to Ars Technica, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz are rising to the challenge by developing their own all-electric vehicles which will be direct competitors to Tesla’s Model S.

Details on these upcoming vehicles are scarce, but Autocar claims that Porsche’s all-electric vehicles is being designed around a second-generation version of the MSB platform that currently underpins the Panamera. It will reportedly use much more lightweight materials than most vehicles, as well as a shorter wheelbase than that of the Panamera, in an effort to bring the weight below the Model S’s 4828 pounds.

Mercedes-Benz has only committed to an all-electric vehicle that will directly compete with the Model S, but no further details have been revealed. Don’t think that Tesla should be worried any time soon, however, as Porsche’s electric sedan isn’t expected to hit the market until 2018, while Mercedes-Benz could wait until 2021. This slow response might give Tesla enough time to solidify its position.