The first Mercedes-Benz purpose-built electric vehicles were missing one of the most useful but worst-named features of the best electric cars. With the new CLA-Class, which is built on a platform designed for both gas and electric models,

Mercedes is also bucking the traditional method of introducing a new platform as an ICE vehicle and then wedging the design into an EV platform. Instead, the company is going “EV first,” launching the CLA as an EV first and then later as an internal combustion with a mild hybrid in 2026.