BUDAPEST: Production of the new A-Class is gaining pace with a Mercedes plant in Hungary the second to kick off manufacturing.

The production of the new A-Class started at Mercedes-Benz's Rastatt plant in Germany a few weeks ago. The new compact car generation will be produced in five plants on three continents.

For the start of production of the A-Class, apprentices from the Rastatt plant produced a steering wheel model using modern additive production processes (3D printing). The steering wheel has a screen on which employees can upload messages for the next plant in the ramp-up cascade.

The model is passed on from plant to plant like a baton and will therefore travel once around the world. The team at Kecskemét, about 90km south of the Hungarian capital, was delighted about the greeting of the colleagues from Rastatt and likewise prepared a message for the next plant in the ramp-up cascade. The new A-Class will be launched next at the Finnish production partner Valmet Automotive in Uusikaupunki.

The new A-Class is the first model in the fourth generation of compact cars, and replaces the preceding model produced since 2012. The family of compact cars currently comprises five models: A-Class, B-Class, CLA, CLA Shooting Brake, and GLA.

An all-new sixth compact model was also recently presented at the trade fair in Beijing: The new long wheelbase A-Class saloon of the current generation is specially designed to meet the needs of Chinese customers. The new compact car family is to be expanded to a total of eight models.

“Our team in Kecskemét is delighted with the successful ramp-up of the new A-Class. With the new model we are the first location outside of Germany, where the innovative A-Class rolls off the production line,” said Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary Kft CEO and site manager Christian Wolff.