Mercedes A-Class to last until 2026, possible EV successor

Faced with slowing demand for electric vehicles, Mercedes-Benz plans to keep the current A-Class on sale through 2026 instead of its previous plan to end the gas-powered compact this year.

This information was first reported last week by The Sun, which quoted Mercedes CEO Ola Kellenius. Only hatchbacks are expected to be produced, not the sedan, which has been discontinued in the U.S. after 2022.

The news comes just weeks after CEO Kellenius said that due to slower-than-expected EV sales, Mercedes will postpone plans to exclusively sell EVs in most markets by 2030 and continue to offer gas-powered vehicles for the next 10 years.

The much higher production costs of EVs are another reason why Mercedes will continue to sell gas-powered vehicles longer than previously planned. Kerenius said that the costs of EVs and gasoline-powered cars are "miles away" from being comparable "for now," The Sun reported.

The Sun also reported that the A-Class has been redesigned and will likely feature the new MMA platform, which was recently spotted testing a prototype and will debut on the redesigned CLA-Class due to go on sale next year The MMA platform is a hybrid and electric power trains, and future A-Classes could offer both options.

The A-Class name was slated to be discontinued this year along with the B-Class compact van, but there appears to be no stay of execution. Last year, Mercedes teased its next-generation compact range, which will consist solely of new versions of the CLA-Class, CLA-Class Shooting Break, GLA-Class, and GLB-Class.