Mercedes-Benz has started production of the new all-electric CLA at its Rastatt plant in Germany, marking a major step forward in its digital manufacturing strategy. The new model is the first to integrate the Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) into the company’s MO360 digital production ecosystem, alongside advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and digital twins. This supports the company’s “Digital First” approach to modern manufacturing.
Several Mercedes-Benz facilities across Germany are supplying key components for the new CLA. The Stuttgart-Untertürkheim plant provides electric drive units and axles, while Kuppenheim delivers bodyshell and structural parts. High-voltage batteries are produced by the company’s subsidiary, Accumotive, in Kamenz, Saxony.
Mercedes-Benz has invested several hundred million euros in upgrading the Rastatt plant for this new model. The assembly hall was extensively remodelled in a short period using digital simulation tools, enabling faster and more cost-efficient construction. A new production line was developed in Hall 4.0 using precision digital modeling, allowing hybrid, electric, and conventional vehicles to be assembled on the same line.
Rastatt is also the first site to use MB.OS in full-scale production. This chip-to-cloud system allows vehicle software to be managed and updated via a central cloud server, eliminating the need for multiple hardware modules. The plant will serve as a model for the global rollout of MB.OS across all Mercedes-Benz manufacturing facilities.
Looking ahead, production of the CLA will expand to China, where Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd (BBAC) will build the model for the local market, including batteries and drive units. The Hungarian plant in Kecskemét will also produce other models from the same vehicle family, using batteries from the local battery factory and electric drive units from Sebes, Romania.
“The new CLA is the first model of a completely new generation of vehicles to roll off the production line here in Rastatt. Our team has prepared intensively for this over the past few months and is rightly very proud of its success. My thanks go to our highly qualified colleagues who build our desirable models here day after day with great commitment and passion.” said Marco Zwick, Site Manager and Head of Production at the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant
“We would like to congratulate the entire Rastatt team and all those involved on the successful start of production. The fact that the new CLA is being produced by us in Rastatt is a clear commitment to our location and underlines the commitment to the company. This will not only secure jobs but also strengthen our suppliers and the entire region. We are proud to actively shape and drive the future.” added Murat Sür, Chairman of the Works Council of the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant
Accumotive in Kamenz plays a central role in the company’s battery strategy. With over 13 years of experience and two factories covering 80,000 square meters, the site has already produced more than two million battery systems for Mercedes-Benz vehicles since operations began in 2012. It is recognized as a center of excellence within the company’s global battery production network, which spans three continents.
