Mercedes hits the accelerator with the cheapest electric SUV: 657 km of range and “hundreds of millions” to produce it in Europe

20/09/2026 11:15

Updated to

20/09/2026 11:15

Mercedes-Benz has just reached another milestone with its new generation of electric vehicles. The company has officially begun mass production of the new GLA at its factory in Rastatt, Germany, where around 7,000 people are currently employed. The SUV will arrive at dealerships in November and will serve as the natural successor to the previous EQA, whose production has already ended.

What’s particularly significant is that Mercedes has started manufacturing only the fully electric versions. Hybrid GLA models with 48-volt technology and internal combustion engines will be introduced later. The company has not announced how many GLA units it plans to produce annually, but it is preparing a major expansion of its manufacturing capacity for this model.

Mercedes prepares another plant to produce the GLA starting in 2027

Currently, the new GLA is assembled at Rastatt’s Plant 4.0. Mercedes will now invest a sum in the low hundreds of millions of euros to transform Plant 4.1, which will also handle production of this model starting in 2027. The company does not specify the amount, so it would be incorrect to convert that reference into a specific figure.

Rastatt has been producing vehicles since 1992 and has become one of Mercedes’ key centers for its compact models. One of its strengths is the flexibility of its production lines, which can manufacture electric, hybrid, and conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. This enables Mercedes to adjust production volumes for each type of vehicle based on demand without relying on entirely separate facilities.

To prepare the second plant, Mercedes is using a digital twin to simulate and optimize the future production line before making physical changes. The company claims this technology helps reduce both costs and construction time, and it was already utilized in the transformation of Plant 4.0 in 2023.

Up to 657 km of range and 320 kW charging

The production of the GLA also involves other Mercedes facilities in Germany. The electric motors and axles come from Untertürkheim along with its associated centers in Mettingen and Hedelfingen. The high-voltage batteries are assembled by Accumotive in Kamenz, while Kuppenheim, located about ten kilometers from Rastatt, supplies structural and body components.

The new GLA uses the MMA platform and will initially be available in three electric versions. The GLA 200 is equipped with a 58 kWh LFP battery, while the GLA 250+ and GLA 350 4MATIC use an 85 kWh NCM battery. Range can reach up to 657 km WLTP, and the two higher-end versions support charging speeds of up to 320 kW, enough to go from 10% to 80% charge in about 22 minutes.

Mercedes opened orders alongside the global launch of the model at the end of July. In Spain, the range starts at 54,725 euros, with first deliveries expected in November. The company has also changed its usual launch order, manufacturing and delivering the electric GLA first before introducing the hybrid options—a decision particularly significant for one of its best-selling compact models.