Mercedes Kicks Off Production Of CLA Shooting Brake In Hungary

Following its official debut in March this year, the Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake is entering the production phase at the company's plant in Kecskemét, Hungary. This is the factory where the stylish compact wagon will be produced for the entire world with global deliveries planned to begin in September this year.

The Hungarian Mercedes production site has more than 4,700 employees and managed to assemble more than 190,000 compact cars last year. In addition to the CLA Shooting Brake, the plant is also responsible for the four-door CLA, as well as the new A-Class. This is the only plant where the two CLA models will be produced.

"Many distinguishing features of the smart production of tomorrow are already in place at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Kecskemét," Christian Wolff, CEO and Site Manager at the plant, comments. "We work on a networked, digital, and flexible basis, so the ramp-up of the new CLA Shooting Brake fits seamlessly into our production processes. All this is possible thanks to our highly-motivated and well-trained workforce. We are proud of this team."

The Kecskemét factory relies on the so-called Modern Industry 4.0 production technologies with a focus on "flexibility, new digital solutions, and sustainability." The site is running a pilot experiment project over a period of five months which should optimize the logistics using the airspace above the complex - replacement parts needed for plant maintenance are carried over the rooftops by drones. This should drastically reduce traffic within the plant.

Mercedes says it is constantly developing its production network and plans to have a CO2-neutral energy supply for all its plants in Europe by 2022. The Hungarian production site will turn CO2-free next year and will soon become a paperless factory digitalizing all the data surrounding the production process.