RIP to the Mercedes-Benz A-Class

The compact hatchback and sedan won't be renewed.

By: Adrian Padeanu

Mar 19, 2025 at 6:52am ET

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Mercedes discontinued the A-Class in the United States after the 2022 model year, but the company’s smallest sedan is still around in other markets. Additionally, it’s also sold as a hatchback – the only vehicle with this body style to carry the three-pointed star. However, both flavors are not long for this world. The firm’s Chief Technology Officer has announced the A-Class lineup will not be renewed after the current-generation models die.

Speaking with Italian magazine Quattroruote, Markus Schäfer reaffirmed the decision to scale back the compact car offerings from seven to four models. The reasoning behind the decision has to do with cutting costs by focusing on models that have a broader appeal. Europeans may love their hatchbacks, but that’s not enough to survive in these challenging times for the automotive industry. The A-Class hatch is going away, and so is the A-Class Sedan. Consequently, the new CLA will become the brand's entry-level car.

"Reducing complexity is a key task for us, which is why decreasing the compact family from seven to four models was necessary in this segment. We need models that will work around the world, including China and the U.S. I know the hatchback is a favorite in Europe, but it was not part of the plan and we had to make choices, including difficult ones."

Another Mercedes model going the way of the dodo is the B-Class, the smallest minivan in the lineup. That leaves the CLA, CLA Shooting Brake, GLA, and the GLB at the bottom of the portfolio. A smaller G-Class is also coming, but the CTO told Quattroruote it won’t be mechanically related to those four cars. Rather than sitting on the MMA platform, it will adopt a different architecture for better off-road capabilities so that it’ll be worthy of the “G” name.

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Mercedes recently announced plans to abandon the separate EQ lineup, which means that the next generations of the fully electric EQA and EQB will be integrated into the GLA and GLB families. We’re also expecting to see electric variants of the upcoming CLA Shooting Brake. All four will be available as mild-hybrids based around a turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine.

Many would argue that Mercedes shouldn't have chased volume with these lower-tier products in the first place. That's debatable, but we are certainly going to miss the A35 and A45 hot hatches. We do agree there's no place for two sedans in the same segment, so killing the four-door A-Class to let the fancier CLA shine does make sense. As for the B-Class, few will miss it.