Mercedes-Benz A-Class to Continue as Germans Reevaluate Electric Vehicle Approach

US A-Class to be Axed in 2020 after Premature Discontinuation

According to a report by Autocar, the initial model of Mercedes-Benz A-Class has allegedly been granted a reprieve, as the brand’s executives have made a decision to extend its production until 2026.

The stepping stone to owning a Mercedes in the United States, which was set to be discontinued this year to make way for new battery-powered choices, has now been officially pushed to an earlier end date of early 2022. This decision by the car manufacturer is made in response to declining interest in electric vehicles, prompting a shift in their approach towards EVs.

In the past, Mercedes had set a target to become a fully electric brand by 2030, with half of its worldwide sales coming from plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) by next year. However, the company has now revised its goal and aims to accomplish this objective sometime between 2025 and 2030. CEO Ola Kallenius stated that the pace of transformation into the electric era will be determined by customer demand and market conditions. He also acknowledged that there will be a series of challenges and successes throughout this transition period.

CarBuzz reached out to Mercedes-Benz to gather more details and will proceed to amend the article with the company’s reply.

Surprisingly, Mercedes-Benz has made the decision to continue producing the A-Class. Through their market research, they have determined that there will be a significant demand for electric cars in the lower to medium price ranges. However, not all consumers are prepared to fully embrace electric vehicles, so the luxury automaker must cater to this group in order to maintain customer satisfaction and maximize profits.

The EQB SUV stands as the most cost-efficient electric vehicle in the brand’s lineup, with a starting cost of $52,750. For the automotive company to truly promote the adoption of electric cars among consumers, they must introduce a more reasonably priced option such as the base GLA-Class which starts at $41,850.

Regrettably, Kallenius holds the belief that achieving equal costs between electric vehicles and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is still a long-term goal. This issue transcends the realm of just Mercedes and is one that all automobile companies grapple with.

Based on the report, Mercedes-Benz has been required to modify the Rastatt assembly plant in order to produce vehicles using the MFA and MMA platforms. The MFA serves as the foundation for the present generation of compact cars such as the A-Class, GLA, GLB, CLA, and EQB, among other models.

Touted as a replacement for the MFA platform, MMA (Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture) is designed to support various types of powertrains including electric, plug-in hybrid, and traditional combustion engines, making it highly adaptable. This flexible architecture will serve as the base for upcoming models such as the GLA and GLB, with the third-generation CLA four-door coupe being the first Mercedes to utilize it. According to reports, the Concept CLA Class has provided a glimpse of the all-electric variant, which is expected to have an impressive range of 466 miles.

The turbocharged 1.3-liter M282 engine, currently utilized by Volvo, Geely, and Lynk&Co vehicles, will continue to power gas-powered models. We can anticipate the new MMA platform to make its debut in 2024, suggesting an imminent unveiling in the near future.