Mercedes Will Not Update The A-Class

Mercedes-Benz has officially announced the discontinuation of its A-Class, marking the company’s departure from the hatchback segment. After four generations and nearly three decades on the market, the A-Class will not see a successor, with production set to end globally by 2026. This is as planned with Mercedes’ broader plan to simplify its lineup and focus on models that appeal to larger global markets such as the United States and China.

Why Is It Being Phased Out?

Introduced in 1997, the A-Class gained attention for its funky “tallboy” design and compact dimensions. Initially positioned as a tall MPV-like vehicle, later generations adopted more conventional hatchback and sedan formats. Despite its popularity in Europe, where hatchbacks remain in demand, the model struggled in key markets such as China and North America, where larger vehicles are preferred. Mercedes executives cited this limited appeal as a major factor in their decision. Markus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer, explained, “We need models that work all over the world, including China and the USA. Reducing complexity is a key task for us.”

Mercedes’ Entry Level Models

The discontinuation of the A-Class is part of Mercedes-Benz’s effort to streamline its compact car portfolio from seven models to four. The CLA will now serve as the entry-level option for the brand, alongside new generations of the GLA and GLB SUVs and an upcoming “baby G-Class.” Mercedes plans to integrate its electric offerings into existing models. The EQA and EQB will drop their standalone EQ branding and instead be incorporated into the GLA and GLB lines under the “With EQ Technology” suffix.

Final Production

The A-Class had already been phased out in North America by 2022 but will remain available in select markets such as Europe and India until production ceases entirely in 2026. This decision only makes it clearer that hatchbacks are a dying breed globally.