Mercedes unveils the first look of its Concept CLA Class EV featuring CO2-reduced aluminium components

The luxury automotive brand Mercedes-Benz has revealed a concept vehicle that previews the German automaker's next family of upmarket small EVs. Titled the Concept CLA Class, the body and chassis of the fully battery-powered vehicle are built of CO2-reduced aluminium and CO2-free steel. As part of the company's Ambition 2039, Mercedes-Benz wants to incorporate aluminium into its cars by 2030 with a carbon footprint that is 90 per cent lower than the European average.

"The Concept CLA Class is the forerunner for an entirely new all-electric segment of entry-level vehicles at Mercedes-Benz. Our lightweight, in-house development features 800-volt electric architecture and a two-speed transmission, paired with a smartly packaged battery with excellent energy density," said Ola Källenius, chairman of the Mercedes-Benz Group.

According to him, the line-up would feature a four-door coupe identical to the elegant exhibition vehicle, a shooting brake-style waggon and two SUVs. The four-door coupe is planned to go into production in 2025. Mercedes-Benz released excellent driving range and charging time figures: more than 750km on a full battery, with the capacity to add 400km of range in only 15 minutes when connected to a suitably robust DC fast charger.

The spectacular front LED lights of the Concept CLA Class, which feature a revolutionary dynamic star pattern and low-energy LED technology, take the car's look to new heights. Precision-crafted, the Concept CLA Class has cutting-edge materials and a sleek glasshouse with chrome accents. A masterwork that pushes the limits of performance and aesthetics while presenting a compelling and creative design. The Concept CLA Class's attraction stems from its exact form and practicality, which creates an unparalleled client experience. Elegance meets innovation, establishing a new design benchmark.

The new Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) based EVs will also have an upgraded, AI-enhanced version of Mercedes-Benz's infotainment technology and additional safety features. The cars will be built with more environmentally friendly and repurposed materials. Mercedes-Benz hopes to lower CO2 emissions linked with the MMA family by more than 40 per cent.

The Concept CLA Class was unveiled on Sunday, September 3, just before the massive IAA Mobility 2023 show in Munich started. The German luxury automotive brand Mercedes-Benz is focused on raising a fleet of carbon-neutral passenger vehicles by 2039, and to do so, it projects to use an average of 40 per cent recycled materials in its vehicles.

“It also features innovative battery cell chemistry as well as a high level of integration enabling excellent energy density. I am certain that our MMA platform will enable us to offer our customers in this market segment a class-defining combination of performance, sustainability, safety and comfort paired with an outstanding digital experience,” added Källenius.