Mercedes-Benz was forced to decide on changes to the design of the new generation of the electric CLA sedan after a wave of criticism flooded social networks and specialized media. The automaker has revised its initial decision regarding the charging infrastructure and has decided to add the ability to connect to the most common public charging points with a voltage of 400 volts.
This information has already been confirmed by an official representative of Mercedes-Benz, noting that for buyers a built-in voltage converter will be added to the basic equipment. Thanks to this, the electric car will be able to charge both from standard DC stations and from the Tesla Supercharger network. The initial version of the new product did not provide for this possibility.
The problem became public in early May, when it became known that the new generation CLA only supports 800-volt AC charging, which seems too limited given the real state of the charging infrastructure in most countries. In an environment where 400-volt technology remains dominant, the limitations could make the car unsuitable for everyday use outside large cities and therefore significantly affect its commercial prospects.
In response to a wave of online outrage and concerns from potential customers, Mercedes-Benz explained that the first batch of cars with support for only the 800-volt architecture is intended to demonstrate the technical capabilities of fast charging, and not reflect the final specification of a production car. According to official comments, from 2026 all versions of the CLA will be equipped with a voltage converter that will allow charging the electric car from networks with a voltage of both 400 and 800 volts.
It is important to emphasize that these changes were made even before the start of deliveries of cars to customers, that is, the company responded in a timely manner to consumer comments and changed its approach even before the model went on sale.
In most markets, the Mercedes-Benz CLA is still at the pre-order stage. Demonstration units are already on display in dealer showrooms, but serial deliveries have not begun. However, almost the entire model line has already been formed: an extended version of the sedan recently debuted in China, a configurator for future buyers is open on the official website, and currently only the Shooting Brake station wagon remains outside the scope of the public announcement.
