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Mercedes-Benz has commenced production of the new CLA model at its Rastatt plant in Germany, marking a significant step in the company’s “Digital First” strategy. The launch follows an extensive renovation of the production hall and incorporates a flexible powertrain approach, enabling the manufacturing of electric, hybrid, and conventional vehicles on the same line. This milestone is underscored by a mid-triple-digit million euro investment to secure the plant’s future and advance the brand’s leadership in electromobility and automotive software.
Key Highlights
- The Rastatt plant now produces the new CLA, integrating AI, a digital twin, and the Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) for the first time.
- A major investment in the triple-digit millions of euros has been made to modernize the plant and support the new model’s production.
- The production network is global, with key components like electric drive units, batteries, and bodyshell parts sourced from various German sites.
- The new CLA will also be built in Beijing for the Chinese market and is part of a larger family of vehicles to be produced in Kecskemét, Hungary.
- Sustainability is a core focus, with the Rastatt plant operating as a carbon-neutral facility and implementing significant energy-saving measures.
Advancing Digital and Sustainable Production
The production of the new CLA at the Rastatt plant represents a leap forward in automotive manufacturing. The facility has integrated artificial intelligence, a digital twin, and the new Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS) into its MO360 digital production ecosystem. This “Digital First” approach allowed the plant to virtually simulate the conversion of the assembly hall, optimizing the new production line in just a few weeks.
For the first time in series production, MB.OS is being utilized, a chip-to-cloud architecture that streamlines vehicle software updates through a central cloud server. This innovation positions Rastatt as a blueprint for the global implementation of MB.OS across all Mercedes-Benz vehicle plants.
In addition to digital advancements, the plant has pioneered the use of AI-controlled process engineering in its top coat booths, reducing energy consumption by 20%. Further sustainability measures include a partnership with CMBlu Energy AG to build an Organic SolidFlow battery storage system and a focus on circularity by recycling steel and aluminum scrap at the nearby Kuppenheim plant. Production at Rastatt is carbon-neutral, powered by 100 percent green electricity.
A Network of Specialized German Plants
The successful launch of the CLA is supported by a network of specialized Mercedes-Benz facilities across Germany. Electric drive units and axles are supplied by the Stuttgart-Untertürkheim plant, while bodyshell components and structural parts come from Kuppenheim. The high-voltage batteries are manufactured by the Mercedes-Benz subsidiary Accumotive in Kamenz, Saxony, which has been producing battery systems since 2012.
This collaborative approach extends globally. Following the initial ramp-up in Germany, Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd. (BBAC) will also manufacture the CLA for the Chinese market. Production of other models in the new vehicle family will commence at the Hungarian plant in Kecskemét, with batteries sourced from a local factory and electric drive units from a subsidiary in Sebes, Romania.
The investment and innovation at the Rastatt plant, which employs around 6,000 people, is a clear commitment to the location and its role in the future of automotive production. The plant also produces the A-Class, B-Class, GLA, and the all-electric EQA, covering a wide range of modern drive technologies.
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