Mercedes-Benz Starts Digital AI-Driven CLA Production in Rastatt, China

Mercedes-Benz has officially commenced series production of its new all-electric CLA at the Rastatt plant in Germany, marking a significant step in automotive manufacturing through the integration of advanced digital technologies including artificial intelligence, digital twins, and the Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS). The production line is flexible, capable of assembling combustion engines, hybrids, and electric vehicles, with key components such as electric drive units, axles, batteries, and body parts sourced from various German sites, ensuring a fully integrated local supply chain. The Rastatt plant has undergone rapid and extensive remodeling using virtual simulations to reduce construction time and costs, and operates on 100% green electricity with sustainable practices like energy-efficient AI-monitored painting processes reducing energy consumption by 20%. Mercedes-Benz views this production as a blueprint for the global rollout of MB.OS across its plants, with a strong commitment to maintaining competitive conditions to support Germany as a hub for electromobility. Following the ramp-up at Rastatt, production of the CLA will also begin at Beijing Benz Automotive for the Chinese market, with further expansions planned in Hungary and Romania for other vehicle family models. The company emphasizes that the CLA represents a new era of electromobility, combining top-of-the-range products with innovative, digital-first, and sustainable manufacturing methods.