Full Mercedes-Benz EQE & EQS power cannot be unlocked via software in Europe

European owners of the Mercedes-Benz EQE and EQS will be legally prohibited from unlocking the full power output of their cars. The automaker introduced a paid option for it in the USA several days ago.

In case you missed the news, the company offered all of its customers in the States to upgrade the software for a significant performance boost. The EQE can go from 288 to 349 horsepower this way, and the EQS can be boosted from 355 to 443 hp. The option is being offered on a subscription-only basis, installed over-the-air and costs $1,200 per year.

At the time of writing, we were still unable to find out what specific legal restrictions in Europe prevented the installation of such an upgrade. The Polestar 2, for example, received an update last year that ramped up its output by 68 horsepower and was legal to download and use in a large number of European countries. It looks like we will have to wait for an official explanation.