Mercedes-Benz’s new CLA hybrid has debuted in Europe with a 1.5-liter M252 petrol engine designed in Germany but produced in China. The decision signals a new phase for the brand, which is relying on international partnerships to bring hybrid technology to the European market. Production reportedly involves Aurobay and Beijing Benz Automotive, Mercedes-Benz’s joint venture in Beijing. The engine’s manufacturing location is separate from the car’s final assembly location.
The M252 is a 1,499 cc turbocharged four-cylinder that uses the Miller cycle. Reported engineering features include a 12:1 compression ratio, Nanoslide cylinder-wall treatment and a partially integrated exhaust manifold. They are designed to reduce friction and improve thermal efficiency, with faster catalyst warm-up. In its technical summary, Autoblog describes the powertrain as a Miller-cycle turbo-four assisted by an electric motor built into the transmission.
In the European-spec CLA 220, the combustion engine is rated at about 190 hp and 300 Nm. It is paired with an approximately 30 hp electric motor integrated into an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, marketed by Mercedes-Benz as the 8G-eDCT. Combined output is reported at 211 hp and 380 Nm. The 48-volt system uses a 1.3-kWh lithium-ion battery. Under suitable conditions, it supports short electric-only operation, particularly at low speeds, as well as engine-off coasting and energy recuperation. The electric motor is reported to contribute up to roughly 200-205 Nm. Specifications vary by market: some listings give the combustion engine 187-188 hp and system output around 208 hp, instead of the European figures.
The transmission-integrated motor and battery set this arrangement apart from a conventional mild hybrid that relies on a belt-driven starter-generator. The system can recover energy during deceleration, switch off the combustion engine while coasting and provide brief electric propulsion. Reports on the CLA describe electric operation in appropriate conditions, including coasting at speeds of up to 100 km/h. That figure does not mean the car can sustain electric driving at that speed in all circumstances.
Global Collaboration
Mercedes-Benz retains responsibility for the engine’s design requirements and for integrating and calibrating the powertrain, while production involves Aurobay and Beijing Benz. The M252 is a Mercedes-developed application built to the brand’s specifications, not simply a Geely engine rebadged for Mercedes. Autofinancier has described the engine as a 1.5-liter petrol unit with a 48-volt hybrid system and reported that it is built in China by a Geely subsidiary.
Autofinancier also describes Aurobay as part of Horse Powertrain, whose ownership it lists as 45% Geely, 45% Renault Group and 10% Saudi Aramco. That structure links the supply chain to Chinese, French and Saudi stakeholders. A separate technical account has claimed large component overlap between the M252 and a Geely engine used in the Lynk & Co 900. That claim is separate from Mercedes-Benz’s stated engineering responsibility for the CLA powertrain.
From Renault to Geely: Developing Partnerships
Mercedes-Benz’s reliance on external partners for compact models is not new. Since 2010, the company has collaborated with the Renault-Nissan alliance to co-develop and source three- and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. That partnership led to Renault-sourced engines in models such as the A-Class and B-Class, including an adapted 1.5 dCi diesel. The current strategy builds on that history, adding Chinese manufacturing and a wider network of stakeholders.
What It Means for Buyers
For customers, the engine’s Chinese origin does not change Mercedes-Benz’s responsibility for the vehicle’s integration and electronics, as well as its homologation and market-specific calibration. The CLA 220 hybrid is offered with regional differences in output, drivetrain configuration and classification. Colombian automotive coverage, for example, describes the CLA 220 4MATIC as a “Full Hybrid” and reports that it is assembled in Germany. That market designation does not establish an identical classification under European rules.
The M252’s reliability and durability will be assessed through use over time. Its production story shows how established European carmakers increasingly distribute engineering, component supply and manufacturing across international partnerships. For the CLA, the result is a Mercedes-developed hybrid system combining a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with a transmission-integrated electric motor and a compact 1.3-kWh battery.
