Beijing Benz Halts Production of Locally Made Electric CLA L After Just 627 Deliveries in H1

Beijing Benz has halted production of the all-electric CLA L, a model specifically developed for the Chinese market. Launched in 2023, the vehicle features an extended wheelbase to enhance rear passenger space and is equipped with an 89 kWh battery pack, offering a maximum CLTC-rated range of 866 kilometers. It supports DC fast charging at up to 325 kW, enabling a 370-kilometer range boost with just 10 minutes of charging. However, its market performance has been weak: only 627 units were delivered in China during the first half of 2024. Sales figures show 35 units sold in January, dropping to 21 in February, rebounding to 358 in March, then falling again to 52 in April and 161 in May, with zero new vehicle registrations recorded in June. To date, Mercedes-Benz has not commented on the reasons for the production halt or its future plans for the model.