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Mercedes CLA: explosion in demand forces three-shift operation!
High interest in the new fully electric CLA from Mercedes-Benz in Untertürkheim: Production is in full swing with three shifts.
Mercedes CLA: explosion in demand forces three-shift operation!
Mercedes-Benz is seeing high demand for the new CLA, prompting the company to expand its production capacity. The fully electric version of the model in particular is selling very well and exceeding expectations. The shareholder reports that production operations at the Rastatt plant will be converted to three-shift operation in the second half of the year. This is done in order to meet the high level of incoming orders. Producers also have to respond to the challenge that production capacities are already reaching their limits.
Production director Jörg Burzer expressed his optimism: “Very pleasing incoming orders” show the positive market acceptance of the new CLA. This vehicle and the station wagon variant based on it, which will be introduced at the end of the year under the name CLA “Shooting Brake”, use the new MMA platform. This platform will also be used for other models, including a new all-electric SUV.
Strategic realignment
Mercedes-Benz's new strategy is aimed at higher-priced and higher-margin models. Despite global uncertainties, particularly the dependence on rare earths from China, the company remains optimistic. Adjustments to the supply chain have increased the company's robustness and ensure that there are no shortages of critical components , according to mbpassion.de.
At the Untertürkheim plant, where around 200 electric drive units are manufactured every day, Mercedes-Benz wants to further increase production capacity for future models. The plant's total capacity is designed to handle "hundreds of thousands" of vehicles, reinforcing plans to produce the new all-electric GLA, which is also expected to expand the portfolio in the near future.
Delivery times and customer satisfaction
Given the high order backlog, dealers are forced to communicate long waiting times to potential customers; Deliveries may continue into next year. To ensure that external customers have priority, a temporary order freeze for employees was even considered internally , reports The Shareholder.
The comprehensive measures to improve the supply chain that were taken after the semiconductor crisis help Mercedes-Benz to remain flexible despite high demand. The adjustments are expected to have a positive impact on both sales and margins in the coming quarters.
With these developments, Mercedes-Benz wants to consolidate its position in the growing electric vehicle market and at the same time secure its own competitiveness in a rapidly changing automotive sector.