Mercedes-Benz Extends Production of A-Class Until 2028 Due to Strong Demand

Recently, internal sources at Mercedes-Benz revealed to Automobilwoche that the company has decided to extend the production timeline of the A-Class model by two years. Originally scheduled to cease production in 2026, the A-Class will now continue until 2028, driven by sustained strong demand in the European market for this entry-level compact sedan. This extension will give the current model, launched in 2018, an impressive lifecycle of nearly ten years. Meanwhile, the B-Class, another compact model, is still set to be discontinued in 2026, with no replacement model currently in development. Jörg Burzer, Mercedes-Benz's production chief, confirmed the extension of the A-Class's production but did not disclose a specific timeline, stating that this will be the model's final production cycle. He noted that the A-Class remains a favorite among customers, particularly in Europe. However, Mercedes-Benz is committed to its overall strategy of reducing its compact model lineup from seven to four, reallocating resources towards the upcoming modular MMA architecture. Production of the next-generation Mercedes CLA, based on the new MMA platform, is gradually progressing at the Rastatt factory, which will start a third production shift in the second half of the year due to strong market demand. The new CLA series will include an all-electric version upon launch, followed by gasoline variants and a CLA shooting brake. Additionally, a new SUV model is in development to replace the GLA. To free up capacity for MMA platform models at the Rastatt factory, Mercedes-Benz may shift the production line of the A-Class to the Kecskemét factory in Hungary during its final two years of production. Burzer emphasized that this move would release critical capacity needed for integrating MMA models into the Rastatt factory, which plays a central role in the company’s future production strategy. According to market research firm Dataforce, A-Class sales in Europe totaled 27,772 units in the first five months of this year, a decrease from 32,711 units during the same period last year; B-Class sales were 5,997 units, down from 6,381 units last year.