National comment and thought from Europe supports thought Mercedes’ entry car’s life expectancy has extended.

BRAND comment locally and media coverage internationally suggests Mercedes entry point passenger car might have years more time left than was indicated not so long ago.

As recently as in March Stuttgart high-up’s were adamant production of the current generation of the A-Class hatchback would wrap up by end of this year, all part of the plan to clear the way for a wholly new car - the CLA - and also to ‘reduce complexity’ across Benz’s line-up.

However, the make’s local operation has swiftly moved to answer media conjecture that a special edition A-Class announced this week is a run-out product, asserting that is simply not the case.

It says while the $82,900 A250 being configured with a Night Package option that normally costs $2100 is a inducement to raise interest in the type, there is no capped consignment nor an end date for ordering.

A spokesperson also said: “They are not run out cars.”

That comment synchs with fresh thought out of Europe about the nameplate, which dates back to 1997 and has steadfastly offered as Mercedes’ most affordable model.

Benz in NZ says there’s no holding off on the CLA, the first vehicle on the brand’s new ‘electric first’ MMA (Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture) and with much more advanced technology.

The first versions should be here before June, 2026.

“(It) is coming to us next year – we (are) currently working to Q2.”

Mercedes continues to also tout a future compact car strategy built around four new models: the CLA, CLA Shooting Brake, GLA and GLB.

All are based on the new MMA platform and all of which will offer a choice of combustion engine and electrified drivetrains.

Regardless that the electric car market has been in depressed state since end of 2023, Benz here asserts that intention is to have CLA here in both drivetrain formats.

It is not clear if the selection will be weighted toward the hybrid, which uses a petrol engine from Mercedes Benz shareholder Geely.

But presumption is growing that the A-Class, which has been in production since 2019, will remain as a cheaper alternate to CLA.

That seems be a logic supported by British motoring magazine Autocar, which this week wrote it believes the car will now stay in production until at least 2028.

It says this is despite repeated statements from Benz chief executive Ola Kallenius that the hatchback, along with the B-Class MPV, would cease production at the end of this year, bringing to an end two generations of models based on the company’s MFA platform.

Autocar believes Benz is going to develop an upgraded version of today’s A-Class hatchback.

The move is understood to have been driven by continued demand for that car, in combination with a slower than expected take-up of Mercedes’ newer EVs.

Autocar understands that the AMG A35 and A45 hot hatches, which are soon to also issue here is special edition guises, will be taken off sale because their M139 2.0-litre turbocharged engine doesn’t comply with EU7, a new emissions standard for Europe.

A-Class production is also likely to shift to a Mercedes’ plant in Hungary, because the factory in Germany where it’s currently made has been repurposed for production of the new CLA and CLA Shooting Brake.