A new era for the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
A new generation of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class compact sedan is set to launch next year, with an exciting addition to the lineup – an all-electric variant.
Mercedes gave a sneak peek of the upcoming CLA-Class EV last October with a camouflaged prototype. Recently, CEO Ola Källenius was seen driving one of the prototypes in a teaser video released by the company.
Teaser for 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
The CLA-Class EV is expected to feature design elements inspired by the Concept CLA-Class showcased at the 2023 Munich auto show. This concept also highlighted the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) that will underpin the CLA EV and other upcoming compact Mercedes models.
The MMA platform will include an 800-volt electrical architecture, enabling fast DC charging that could add up to 248 miles of range in just 15 minutes, as demonstrated by the Concept CLA-Class. The emphasis will be on efficiency rather than battery size, drawing lessons from the exceptional performance of the Vision EQXX concept, which traveled a record-breaking 746 miles on a single charge in 2022.
The highly-anticipated CLA EV is scheduled to be unveiled in 2025, suggesting it will hit the U.S. market as a 2026 model. Källenius hinted at a high-performance AMG version in the works alongside the standard CLA-Class, with a hybrid powertrain option also likely to be available alongside the all-electric models.
Aside from the CLA-Class, Mercedes is planning to introduce a lineup of small vehicles based on the MMA platform, including a crossover that could potentially rival the Tesla Model Y.