- Mercedes’ CTO confirmed previous reports that the A-Class won’t see another generation.
- The brand’ compact lineup will be reduced to four models: CLA, GLA, GLB, and the g-Class.
- The baby G will use a standalone platform, as the MMA would compromise its off-road capabilities.
Mercedes has just launched the third generation of the CLA, offering a choice between EV and hybrid powertrains. However, there’s some bad news for fans of the A-Class: the brand’s Chief Technology Officer, Markus Schafer, confirmed that the sleek compact sedan won’t be followed by a new A-Class.
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Rumors about the death of the A-Class after the end of the current generation’s lifecycle have been circulating since 2022, and now we have official confirmation. During the presentation of the new CLA, Schafer revealed that Mercedes won’t develop a successor to their sole hatchback offering and explained why.
The Future of Mercedes’ Compact Models
“We need models that work all over the world, including China and the USA. I know the hatchback is the favorite bodystyle in Europe, but it was not part of the plans, and we had to make choices—even difficult ones,” he said. “Reducing complexity is a key task for us. For this reason, bringing the compact family from seven to four models was necessary in this segment.”
Aside from the new CLA in sedan and shooting brake flavors, Mercedes’ compact lineup will now include new generations of the GLA and GLB SUVs, plus a baby G-Class off-roader.
Mercedes CLA
Mercedes A-Class
Unfortunately, that also means some models won’t make it past the current generation, including the Class hatchback, A-Class sedan, and B-Class minivan. Furthermore, the fully electric EQA and EQB SUVs are expected to be integrated into the new GLA and GLB lineups, dropping the EQ moniker and adopting a more uniform design.
The End of an Era for the A-Class
Last year it was reported that the current A-Class will stick around until 2026 before bowing out of production. The four generations of the entry-level Mercedes were introduced in 1997, 2004, 2012, and 2018 respectively. The first two competed in the supermini segment with a tall body and minivan proportions, while the third and fourth-gen models adopted a more conventional hatchback bodystyle with a larger footprint.
The A-Class was discontinued from US and Canada after the end of 2022, but remains on sale in other markets including Europe, after benefiting from a mid-lifecycle update. The upcoming end of the model also marks the conclusion of the A45 AMG hot hatch.
A Different Platform for the g-Class
The new CLA is built on the MMA architecture, which will also underpin the upcoming GLA and GLB SUVs. However, the baby G-Class will take a different route in order to maintain its rugged, off-road-ready character. Speaking to Quattroruote, Schafer confirmed that the baby G-Class will not share the same platform: “The baby G will not be born on the MMA, because if we had used the new platform, we would not have been able to guarantee it the off-road capabilities that a G-Class must have.”
“We use the available modules to the maximum of the sharing possibilities, from powertrains to software, but for the baby G we will make a specific base – the MMA would not allow us to mount the wheels of the diameter necessary for a model of this kind, nor to give it the necessary ground clearance”.
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Mercedes has also confirmed that the baby G-Class will adopt a lowercase “g” for its name. A teaser from February 2025 hints that the model will have a compact footprint, generous ground clearance, and a boxy shape reminiscent of the original short-wheelbase G-Wagen from 1979.
