Mercedes-Benz confirms the start of series production of the new electric CLA

Mercedes-Benz has started series production of the new electric CLA at its Rastatt plant in Germany, after assembling some pre-series units since last April. It was also in that same month that the German manufacturer began accepting orders for its new electric saloon with a starting price of 56,000 euros.

The company has high hopes that the CLA will end up being a sales success and will mark a turning point, after failing to capture the public’s attention with the brand’s first generation of electric models. In the words of Ola Källenius, the current Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-Benz: “The CLA not only represents a new era for the brand, but also a firm conviction in the future of electric vehicles.”

It can be said without fear of contradiction that the new CLA is a Made in Germany vehicle, since it is not only assembled at the Rastatt plant, but many of its components also come from other German Mercedes-Benz plants. The electric drive units and axles come from the Stuttgart-Untertürkheim plant, the body panels from Kuppenheim, and the batteries from Kamenz. This integrated approach strengthens the company’s production network.

Hard work pays off

Preparing the Rastatt plant for electric model production included a record-time conversion of one of its assembly halls. For the first time, the conversion was planned virtually using high-precision digital simulations, optimising the configuration of the new production line in hall 4.0. This saved time and costs.

The Rastatt plant will not be, however, the only site where the CLA will be manufactured. The Beijing Benz Automotive Co plant will also produce this model, including its batteries and drive units, for the Chinese market. Likewise, the Kecskemét factory in Hungary will join the production of other models in this new family, using batteries produced at the plant itself and drive units from the Sebes plant in Romania.

Before concluding, we should recall that the CLA is the first vehicle based on Mercedes-Benz’s new MMA platform. Initially, this new electric saloon from the German firm will be available in the 250+ version with a single motor and rear-wheel drive. However, the German manufacturer will also offer a higher-spec version called the 350 4MATIC, which will stand out for offering a WLTP range of almost 800 km, thanks to its 85 kWh battery pack.

In terms of sustainability, it is worth noting that all CLAs finished in Rastatt are transported in electric trucks from the Galliker company, covering 600 km to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, a key hub for international vehicle transport.