Mercedes-Benz has filed a series of trademark applications centering the letters EQ, leading to speculation its electric vehicle sub-brand to be unveiled at the upcoming Paris motor show could take the EQ name.

The trademarks, including EQA, EQC, EQE, EQG and EQS, together with EQ Inside, EQ Boost and Generation EQ, were all filed with European authorities last week under the category motor vehicle.

Officials from the German car maker have confirmed to Drive the existence of plans to create a new electric car sub-brand to challenge the likes of BMW's i and Audi's e-tron brands.

SUPPLIED Mercedes-Benz will launch a range of new electric vehicles using this newly developed platform.

The EQ name is expected to appear on a high-riding electric SUV, possibly called the EQG.

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Many of the new trademarks can be applied to existing key Mercedes-Benz models; EQA relating to the A-class; EQC to the C-class; EQE to the E-class, EQG to the G-class and EQS to the company's range topping S-class, while the EQ Boost name could be used in performance brand badging.

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