Mercedes-Benz Korea turns to affordable CLA EV amid falling sales
Mercedes-Benz Korea is betting that a more affordable all-electric CLA sedan will revive its flagging electric vehicle (EV) business in the country, as Tesla and Chinese rivals gain ground in one of Asia’s most competitive imported-car markets. The German luxury automaker introduced the all-new electric CLA and GLC on Monday, with the entry-level CLA coupe-type sedan priced from 52.9 million won…
Mercedes-Benz Korea is turning to a more affordable electric CLA sedan in an effort to revive its struggling electric vehicle business amid rising competition from Tesla and Chinese rivals. The new all-electric CLA and GLC models were introduced on Monday, with the entry-level CLA coupe-type sedan priced at 52.9 million won ($40,000), signaling a significant shift from the automaker's traditional premium positioning.
This pricing places the new electric sedan in closer competition with mass-market alternatives such as Tesla's Model Y, which starts at 49.99 million won in Korea. The launch of the price-competitive CLA comes at a crucial time for Mercedes-Benz, as the company's EV sales have been sluggish following a fire involving a Mercedes-Benz EQE sedan in an underground parking garage in Incheon in August 2024. The company's electric car lineup, which once drove growth, has lost momentum since then.
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