Mercedes-Benz A-Klasse E-Cell Production Kicks Off

The third electric passenger car to be built under the Mercedes-Benz brand has entered production at the Rastatt plant. Following the smart fortwo electric drive and the B-Klasse F-Cell, it’s now time for the A-Klasse E-Cell to start rolling off production lines. With just 500 units of the model to be built, the A-Klasse will be leased with a full-service rent model to selected customers in various European countries, including Germany, France and the Netherlands.

For the electric A-Klasse, Mercedes-Benz applies all the development and production standards of series production to an electric vehicle with battery-electric drive system. “All electrical components meet the high standards in terms of quality, reliability and service life that are self-evident for Mercedes-Benz,” the company promises.

This, however, required some minor adjustments in terms of production. For example, new consoles for fixing the lithium-ion batteries were provided in the floor structure of the current A-Klasse. No changes to the bodywork structure or to the assembly process were necessary.

Only the assembly and commissioning of the lithium-ion batteries is undertaken at a separate station. Every A-Klasse E-Cell then returns to the standard A-Klasse production line for chassis dynamometer testing, rain test, final inspection and finish. Company staff has also been extensively trained in working with high-voltage technologies.

"We have perfectly prepared our staff for working with these new, alternative technologies. Over the course of several training modules, they have been able to gain the essential qualifications for their future tasks. We are thus able to ensure that they are absolutely ready to work with high-voltage components," stated Uwe Reich, Project Manager for the production of the A-Klasse E-Cell.