The purely electrical CLA from Mercedes-Benz, introduced as an idea on the IAA, will initially be constructed on the German plant in Rastatt, Mercedes’ head of manufacturing, Jörg Burzer, tells Automobilwoche. “The CLA will begin in the midst of the last decade as the primary automobile on the MMA platform in Rastatt,” Burzer says. The manufacturing mannequin will probably be introduced in 2024, as introduced on the IAA in Munich, and manufacturing in Rastatt will begin in 2025. Nevertheless, Burzer doesn’t specify the beginning of manufacturing additional.
Rastatt would be the first, however not the one manufacturing location for the electrical compact sedan: After the beginning of manufacturing in Rastatt, the CLA will even be constructed within the crops in Kekscemet (Hungary) and Beijing (China). Burzer doesn’t specify when precisely this will probably be.
The Idea CLA Class introduced in Munich is meant to be on the manufacturing stage already. Mercedes guarantees a WLTP vary of as much as 750 kilometres and a consumption of solely 12 kWh/100km for the examine. The 800-volt structure will probably be outfitted with anodes with silicon oxide content material for a very excessive vitality density within the range-extending variations – Mercedes doesn’t present any data on the cathode. The entry-level model makes use of cells with LFP chemistry.
The examine just isn’t solely seen as a preview of the CLA, however with the drive expertise described, it would additionally type the premise for Mercedes’ upcoming compact mannequin household, which will probably be primarily based on the Mercedes-Benz Modular Structure (MMA) platform. It’s not a purely electrical platform, however the “Electrical First” precept applies – inner combustion engines are nonetheless potential. Nevertheless, Mercedes has but to present additional particulars.
The brand new compact mannequin household will thus shrink significantly – solely 4 fashions are deliberate as an alternative of the present seven. Along with the CLA saloon and a shooting-brake offshoot, these will embrace the (primarily electrical) successors to the GLA/EQA and GLB/EQB. The A-Class hatchback, the A-Class saloon and the B-Class will probably be dropped with out substitute.
Since each the A- and B-Class are inbuilt Rastatt, their demise is more likely to influence staff on the website. Nevertheless, Burzer sees no detrimental penalties for capability utilisation: “Regardless of fewer fashions than earlier than, I don’t count on any influence on core employment. We’re not leaving the section. And we’re satisfied that we will encourage prospects with the merchandise.”
The present CLA era as a combustion engine and plug-in hybrid is constructed for Europe in Kekscemet, the place the GLB and the E-version EQB are additionally manufactured. Rastatt is answerable for the A- and B-Class, in addition to the GLA, together with EQA. So, there will probably be a change when the CLA vary strikes to the German plant. Nevertheless, Burzer didn’t wish to touch upon additional results but. “Aside from the CLA, we’re not but speaking about the place precisely which derivatives will probably be localised,” the manufacturing board member says.
Regardless of specializing in electrical automobiles, Mercedes will proceed to fabricate inner combustion engines, hybrids and BEVs on one line. The carmaker will put money into Rastatt for the MMA manufacturing; Burzer speaks of an “effectivity acquire of round 20 per cent in comparison with the predecessor mannequin” by way of productiveness. The expertise gained from the flagship Manufacturing facility 56 manufacturing in Sindelfingen (S-Class and EQS) will probably be transferred to different crops, particularly regarding digitalisation.
A leap in productiveness will even be potential because of the MB.OS working system, which will probably be used within the new era of autos. “Till now, capabilities have been uploaded to the ECUs earlier than or after manufacturing. Now, we will apply updates in each manufacturing step, which brings us extra effectivity. That is the subsequent leap on the manufacturing facet,” says Burzer.
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