Mercedes-Benz has officially launched series production of its all-electric CLA at the Rastatt plant in Germany, marking the start of a new generation of electric vehicles for the company, the automaker said on Thursday.
The new CLA is the first model based on Mercedes-Benzâs Modular Architecture (MMA) platform, initially offered as the rear-wheel-drive CLA 250+ with a range of up to 800 kilometres (WLTP). The vehicle is equipped with a 200-kW electric motor on the rear axle, an 85-kWh battery, and features 800-volt technology that allows fast charging from 10% to 80% in approximately 22 minutes. A 260-kW all-wheel-drive version, the CLA 350 4MATIC, will follow.
âMercedes-Benz is ushering in a new era with the CLA,â said CEO Ola KĂ€llenius. âIt is also a statement: we are convinced of the long-term success of electromobility. The best argument for this are top products like the CLA. To ensure that these are also âmade in Germanyâ in the future, we as a company are investing in the location, but we also need framework conditions that are competitive.â
Production at Rastatt follows an extensive and rapid conversion of an existing assembly hall. Mercedes said the transition was supported by advanced digital simulation and mapping, including the use of a âdigital twinâ and its Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS), now integrated into the MO360 production ecosystem. The company has described the new facility as âthe next stage of automobile production.â
Components for the CLA are sourced from across Mercedes-Benzâs German production network. Electric drive units and axles are supplied by Stuttgart-UntertĂŒrkheim, body components come from Kuppenheim, and batteries are produced at the Kamenz facility.
In addition to Rastatt, future production of the CLA for the Chinese market will be handled by Beijing Benz Automotive Co. (BBAC), including local battery and drivetrain manufacturing. The Hungarian plant in KecskemĂ©t is also slated to produce further models on the MMA platform, supported by battery supply from Mercedesâ own factory and electric drive units from Sebes, Romania.
As part of its sustainability initiatives, Mercedes is transporting completed CLA vehicles from Rastatt to the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium using electric trucks supplied by logistics partner Galliker. The 600-km route is part of a wider push by Galliker, which has also deployed electric transporters for Mercedes deliveries in Switzerland and supports Porsche logistics with electric vehicles.
Order books for the new CLA opened in Germany in late April, with a starting price of approximately âŹ56,000.