Competitors to the E-Class include the BMW 5 Series, Lexus GS, Volvo S80, Cadillac CTS, and the Audi A6.
The 400E and 500E went into production on August 6, 1991, as 1992 models.
The 1994 E500 production ended on June 24, 1994.
Production of the 1995 E-Class W124 ended on May 23, 1995.
Production of the 1996 E-Class began on July 17, 1995.
Production of the 2002 E-Class ended on February 20, 2002.
Production of the 2003 E-Class began on May 13, 2002.
Through time the E-Class has been built in:
- RWD: Sindelfingen, Germany
- 1986-1995 Wagons: Bremen & Sindelfingen, Germany
- 500E/E500/E55 AMG: Zuffenhausen, Germany & Stuttgart, Germany
- 1993-????, 2005-present: Thailand (by Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Co., Ltd.)
- 1995-present: Pune, India (for the Indian market) Joint-venture signed in 1994 with TELCO, India for manufacture of Mercedes Cars in India. First Indian made E220 bowed in 1995.
- 1996: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- 1998-present 4MATIC: Graz, Austria (by Magna Steyr)
- 2006-present: Pekan, Malaysia (by Malaysia Truck and Bus Sdn Bhd (MTB) of DRB-HICOM)
- 2006-present: Iran (by Top Khodro, a joint venture with Iran Khodro Diesel, for the Iranian market)
- 2006-present: Beijing, China (by Beijing-Benz DaimlerChrysler Automotive for the Chinese market)
See Mercedes-Benz W120 for details
The first modern mid size Mercedes was the W120 'Ponton' 180 of 1953. Sharing its engineering with the R121 190SL of 1955, the Ponton was a stylish sedan with four-cylinder power. A larger-engined W121 190 appeared in 1958.
See Mercedes-Benz W110 for details
Mercedes added tailfins to both the big S-Class and the new W110 'Fintail' 190 of 1962. Straight-6 power appeared for the first time in the 1965 230 model, and the fours grew in displacement that year as well.