Mercedes rectifies and saves one of its most important cars
Mercedes had confirmed the cessation of production of its entry-level model, the A-Class, but has ended up correcting its fate. The German compact will continue to be sold for a while longer, and the brand is already studying its future replacement.
Yes, it's true, we had said it: Mercedes was going to eliminate its smallest models from its range soon, the compact A-Class and the B-Class minivan, both entry-level models of the star brand. The cheapest Mercedes was set to cease production in 2026, but there have been changes regarding this.
Just like all brands (including Mercedes) have corrected their course in their strategies with electric cars, now the German manufacturer has reconsidered what would be a move that many did not like: getting rid of its two most affordable models.
Thus, as confirmed by Mercedes' own sales director, Mathias Geisen, there is more life for at least one of them. The A-Class will remain on the assembly line in Rastatt for at least two more years, until 2028, and yes, it will have a successor.
The Mercedes A-Class is still very much alive
Let’s remember that Mercedes was in a phase of “recalibration” of its compact range. The new electric CLA has come to change everything, including its Shooting Brake variant and the future GLA and GLB, which will also take over from the EQA and EQB.
The star brand has corrected its course with the EQ family, and the aforementioned CLA is the first to set the new line to be followed by Mercedes: combustion and electric models will showcase the same style.
In those plans, the current A-Class and B-Class were not included. In the case of the former, it continues to be popular in the Spanish market: so far this year, it has sold 4,639 units, with a 2.32 percent increase compared to the first eight months of 2024, making it the third best-selling model of the brand after the GLA and GLC.
The pressures have had the necessary effect for Mercedes to keep the A-Class alive, the cheapest in its range and the first Mercedes for many of its customers. Removing such a model would mean eliminating a great potential of customers who would be willing to buy another vehicle from the brand in the future.
An authentic draw for the brand that will continue to live longer, competing in an increasingly fierce C segment. But Mercedes promises more: “In the long term, there will be a basic model”, which guarantees the continuity of a model with these characteristics.
The big question now is, will it keep its five-door hatchback body or will Mercedes opt for another smaller and dynamic SUV than the GLA? What seems clear is that it will bet on a multi-energy range, including, of course, 100 percent electric technology to compete directly with the future BMW iX1.
Fuente: Automobilwoche
