With most developed countries enforcing ever-stricter emissions regulations and city congestion worsening, it surely makes sense for even premium carmakers to get into the electric city car game.
City dwellers with a little more tong surely need a way to distinguish themselves now don't they? Now it appears than BMW isn't the only German carmaker on that wavelength.
According to international media reports, Mercedes-Benz is working on a project that could see it building a very small electric car to rival the upcoming BMW Megacity.
The sketch you see here is one of the design ideas for the vehicle and was created at Merc's design studio in Japan - where mite-sized cars are truly paramount.
The small Mercedes will form part of the company's Mega City Mobility program. It will, of course, be powered by an electric motor and share a platform with the rear-engined platform of the next Smart Fortwo.
It is not yet clear when the Mercedes-Benz 'Megacity' will hit the market, but surely not before BMW starts selling its Megacity in 2013.