Mercedes-Benz launches next-generation electric vehicles CLA and GLC in Korea… “Accelerating electrification strategy”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Yun-gu = Mercedes-Benz is strengthening its presence in the Korean electric vehicle market by launching the next-generation electric vehicles ‘The All-New Electric CLA’ and ‘The All-New Electric GLC’ in Korea.

Mercedes-Benz plans to accelerate its electrification strategy by increasing the proportion of electric vehicles in new cars launched in Korea next year.

Mercedes-Benz Korea unveiled ‘The All-New Electric CLA’ and ‘The All-New Electric GLC’ in Seongsu-dong, Seoul on the 19th.

Shirin Emira, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea, said, “The two models are a very important turning point in Mercedes-Benz’s electrification journey,” and emphasized, “We will not simply expand the electric vehicle lineup, but raise the level of the Korean premium electric vehicle market to the next level.”

'The All-New Electric CLA' is the first model to apply the next-generation modular architecture MMA.

It will be released as CLA 250+ with an 85 kWh battery and CLA 200 with a 58 kWh battery. Based on domestic certification, the driving distance on a single charge is 474 km and 342 km, respectively, and the price is 52.9 million to 67.7 million won.

‘The All-New Electric GLC’ is a sports utility vehicle (SUV) that is the first to apply MB.EA, an architecture dedicated to mid-sized electric vehicles.

The GLC 300 4MATIC Electric is equipped with an 85kWh battery and can travel 448km on a single charge. The price ranges from 90 million to 94.8 million won.

The two models are equipped with Mercedes-Benz's self-developed vehicle operating system MB.OS and an artificial intelligence (AI)-based infotainment system. A level 2 driving assistance system is also applied through the advanced driver assistance system 'MB. Drive Assist'.

Compared to the existing model, the wheelbase of the ‘The All-New Electric CLA’ is 61 mm longer and the ‘The All-New Electric GLC’ is 84 mm longer, expanding the interior space.

‘The All-New Electric CLA’ and ‘The All-New Electric GLC’ recorded approximately 1,000 and 2,500 pre-orders, respectively. Customer deliveries will begin in mid-November.

Mercedes-Benz Korea plans to provide the PLUS rate plan of the integrated charging service 'MB.CHARGE Public' for one year to customers who purchase pure electric vehicles, and to launch the 'Plug & Charge' service, which automatically makes payments when the charging cable is connected, in the first quarter of next year.

Kim Eun-joong, vice president of Mercedes-Benz Korea's product and sales division, said, "While the Korean automobile market is in decline, the proportion of electric vehicles is rapidly increasing. We want to expand our position in the domestic electric vehicle market by accelerating our electrification strategy."

He also said that regarding new cars released in Korea next year, “the overall proportion of electric vehicles will be high.”

Vice President Kim explained that Mercedes-Benz aims to launch the Level 2++ driving assistance system 'MB.DRIVE Assist Pro' in the United States within this year, and to introduce it in Korea within next year once the regulatory environment is established.

He added that 'The All-New Electric GLC' is equipped with 10 cameras and has the hardware for Level 2++.

Meanwhile, CEO Emira said, “The global spread of electric vehicles is progressing in more diverse ways than initially expected,” and “We will provide both pure electric vehicles and high-efficiency internal combustion engine vehicles for the next 10 years and beyond, allowing customers to choose.”