German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has encountered a setback in the production of its all-electric CLA sedan in China. The production of the all-electric, long-wheelbase version of the Mercedes-Benz CLA has been delayed to August from the initially planned April due to issues with software development, as reported by 36kr. This delay marks a significant setback for one of Mercedes-Benz’s highly-anticipated models.
According to a memo cited in the report, the new China-exclusive all-electric long-wheelbase CLA is now scheduled to go into production in 2025 and is currently undergoing full-scale testing. Mercedes-Benz confirmed that they are advancing their preparations for the production ramp-up as planned to meet the needs of their Chinese customers.
The all-electric CLA is built by Mercedes on the MMA (Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture) platform, which is a new modular platform designed for compact and midsize cars. This platform can be utilized to produce both electric vehicle (EV) models and internal combustion engine vehicles, providing flexibility for future models.
Despite being a strategic move by Mercedes-Benz to cater to the growing EV market in China, the launch of the all-electric CLA has been delayed due to challenges in software development. The issues primarily stem from the software development of the electrical and electronic architecture, which seems to be a common hurdle for new models from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.
To address these challenges, Mercedes-Benz has established a digital R&D center in Shanghai and assembled a team of several hundred people to focus on research and development of electronic and electrical architecture, smart cockpit, and smart driving technologies. However, developing efficient electrical and electronic architectures remains a complex task for traditional fuel carmakers transitioning to EV production.
In contrast to Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen has opted to collaborate with local EV manufacturer Xpeng to jointly develop an electrical and electronic architecture. The partnership aims to leverage Xpeng’s expertise in EV technology and integrate it into Volkswagen’s China Main Platform, demonstrating a collaborative approach to overcome the challenges of EV development.
The delay in the production of the all-electric CLA underscores the complexities involved in transitioning to electric vehicle production for traditional automakers. As Mercedes-Benz continues to navigate software development challenges, the industry will closely monitor how the luxury carmaker addresses these issues and advances its EV lineup in the Chinese market.
