Mercedes-Benz begins series production of the new electric GLB

Mercedes-Benz has just started series production of the new generation electric GLB at its Hungarian plant in Kecskemét. This facility in the centre of the country, in Eastern Europe, is expected to reach an annual production capacity of up to 350,000 vehicles in the short term.

The announcement was made by Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó, who had been invited by the German manufacturer to the official ceremony marking the start of production. According to his statements, this achievement is a key pillar in the growth strategy of the German brand and strengthens its future product line-up.

The new electric GLB joins the CLA and CLA Shooting Brake as the third member of Mercedes-Benz’s renewed range of EQ-technology models, all of them built on the modern modular MMA architecture. This platform is optimised for electric vehicles with an 800-volt architecture, although it also allows 48-volt hybrid versions with petrol engines.

Available versions and their technical specifications

Mercedes-Benz will initially offer two versions of the new electric GLB. The entry-level version is the 250+, with a single motor on the rear axle and 200 kW of power. One step above, the 350 4MATIC version will also be offered, with all-wheel drive and 260 kW. Both feature the same 85 kWh battery pack with NMC cells integrated into the vehicle floor. The German manufacturer promises a WLTP range of up to 631 km for the rear-wheel-drive version, while maximum charging power reaches 320 kW, making it possible to go from 10 to 80 percent charge of the battery pack in just 22 minutes.

It is expected that later Mercedes-Benz will offer an even more affordable version equipped with a 58 kWh battery pack with LFP cells, following the same strategy already seen with the CLA. However, there is no official confirmation of its possible market launch date for the time being.

Prices and availability

In Germany, prices for the new GLB start at 59,048 euros for the entry-level 250+, while the GLB 350 4MATIC requires a minimum of 62,178 euros. Looking at the price difference between the available CLA versions, the future GLB with the 58 kWh LFP battery pack should mean savings of around 6,000 euros.

The Hungarian plant in Kecskemét already produced the first generation of the GLB with a combustion engine and its electric version, the EQB. With this second generation of this compact SUV, both Mercedes-Benz and local authorities expect a notable increase in sales, which should bring Hungary closer to its goal of producing one million vehicles per year across all plants in the country.