The smallest Mercedes model, the A-Class, was actually supposed to be discontinued under Mercedes’ new entry-segment model strategy, with the electric CLA serving as the gateway to the Mercedes world. Now, Mercedes development board member Jörg Burzer has confirmed a new A-Class, which is planned for 2028.
In 2023, Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius announced four models based on the new Mercedes Modular Architecture, which were set to form the Stuttgart-based manufacturer’s new compact-class lineup: the CLA as a four-door coupé, a shooting brake derivative of that CLA, and two SUV models to succeed the EQA and EQB.
There was no longer a place in the plans for the A-Class or the B-Class. Källenius did not want to abandon the compact segment entirely but preferred to focus on saloons and SUVs, which offer higher margins, rather than on a traditional compact model or a van.
Four becomes five
Mercedes has since reconsidered its plans for the A-Class. The current model, which will continue to be produced until 2027, will now have a successor. “It will be a standalone model on the MMA platform, something that hasn’t existed before,” Development Chief Jörg Burzer told the German magazine Automobilwoche. Mercedes now plans to offer five MMA-based models instead of four.
While the new model will succeed the A-Class, it will not be a traditional compact car. As Automobilwoche reports, it is set to be “a crossover model that combines the advantages of an SUV with those of a compact van”. Burzer declined to comment on the car’s design but provided some insights into the manufacturer’s plans.
“Our thinking here is: alongside models with a long wheelbase specifically for Asia and considerations for models even more tailored to the US, we also want to continue offering a highly attractive entry-level model based on the MMA architecture for Europe,” explained the CTO.
Mixed platform
On the sidelines of the facelifted S-Class premiere in Stuttgart at the end of January, Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius had already hinted at the new A-Class, stating that after discussions with European dealers and initial design drafts, he had decided to proceed with a new edition.
However, beyond the model is expected 2028 launch and its MMA-based platform, little else has been confirmed. While it is likely to be also a battery-electric model, given that the MMA was developed with electric drivetrains in mind, it is a mixed platform that can also accommodate hybrids. Both the CLA and the GLB are also planned as hybrids. Whether the A-Class successor will utilise both drivetrain types remains unknown.
As a potential production location, Automobilwoche suggests the Hungarian plant in Kecskemét. The current A-Class is still being produced in parallel with the electric CLA at the Rastatt plant, but will be relocated to Hungary by the first quarter of 2026, ahead of its production end in 2027. With the electric GLB, Kecskemét is already prepared for production on the MMA.
New electric S-Class
In the interview with Automobilwoche, Burzer also more or less confirmed the end of the EQS. By the end of the decade, an all-electric S-Class is set to arrive. “At that point, we will offer both drivetrain types in the S-Class,” said the top manager. “We have learned an enormous amount from the electric EQS. How we will implement this exactly will be communicated at a later date.”
“Ultimately, we want the S-Class to have a powertrain portfolio that enables electromobility as well as electrified internal combustion engine technology. I don’t want to reveal exactly what the platform will look like yet, but it will be visually and technically highly attractive,” he added.
Burzer left open whether there will be a dedicated electric and combustion-engine platform or a mixed platform. Mercedes is currently pursuing both approaches in parallel: the MMA models will be offered as battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
The GLC model, however, consists of two model ranges under this name: the familiar ICE hybrid and, since IAA 2025, the GLC with EQ technology, which has been visually aligned more closely with the combustion-engine model but is based on an electric platform.
The fact that the recently updated S-Class has been brought only up to the level of the CLA in certain functions is not a problem for Burzer, but rather the new reality. “The world has changed. In the past, you could wait six or seven years for an innovation, until the S-Class arrived, for example,” says the Development Director. “Rolling out everything from one model downward no longer works today. Innovation cycles are simply too short for that.”
