{"id":7222,"date":"2026-08-08T07:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T12:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/techy\/en\/?p=7222"},"modified":"2026-08-07T08:10:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T13:10:56","slug":"the-engine-in-the-new-mercedes-cla-hybrid-is-neither-german-nor-french-and-the-chinese-giant-that-builds-it-is-not-a-carmaker-you-expect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/techy\/en\/the-engine-in-the-new-mercedes-cla-hybrid-is-neither-german-nor-french-and-the-chinese-giant-that-builds-it-is-not-a-carmaker-you-expect\/7222\/","title":{"rendered":"The engine in the new Mercedes CLA hybrid is neither German nor French, and the Chinese giant that builds it is not a carmaker you expect"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Open the hood of the new Mercedes-Benz CLA hybrid and the story is more global than the three-pointed star suggests. Its new M252 gasoline engine is manufactured in China through Aurobay and Beijing Benz Automotive, although Mercedes-Benz remains responsible for the core design, calibration, and integration into the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That distinction matters. This is not a Geely engine wearing a Mercedes cover, but neither is it a traditional German powertrain built near Stuttgart. The CLA shows how Europe\u2019s auto industry is trying to fund electric cars<\/a>, software, and cleaner factories while sharing the cost of another generation of efficient combustion engines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What sits under the hood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The M252 is a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a displacement of roughly 92 cubic inches, commonly described as a 1.5-liter unit. It uses the Miller combustion cycle<\/a>, a 12-to-1 compression ratio, an exhaust manifold partly integrated into the cylinder head, and Mercedes\u2019 low-friction Nanoslide cylinder coating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mercedes has reported peak thermal efficiency of 39.4%, meaning more of the gasoline\u2019s energy can become useful motion instead of waste heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the CLA 220, the gasoline engine produces about 188 horsepower and works with an electric motor rated at roughly 30 horsepower inside an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Total system output is about 208 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. A compact 1.3-kWh, 48-volt battery<\/a> supports electric-only movement at urban speeds, regenerative braking in all eight gears, and engine-off coasting at up to about 62 mph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese-built does not mean Chinese-designed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The engine project grew from a Mercedes-Geely powertrain partnership, but the responsibilities are more precise than many headlines suggest. Mercedes-Benz led the engine\u2019s design and development, while Aurobay oversees the supplier network and manufacturing. Production takes place at Aurobay\u2019s factory in Yiwu and at Beijing Benz Automotive in Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
The new Mercedes-Benz CLA hybrid features a 1.5-liter M252 engine co-developed in Germany and manufactured in China by Aurobay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Aurobay can use the same basic engine family in its own applications, including the Lynk & Co 900. Up to 85% of the parts can be shared, while the companies use different controls, intake systems, emissions equipment, oil pans, and installation layouts. The result is common hardware with brand-specific engineering around it, not one identical engine dropped into several cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renault is still in the background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mercedes has relied on outside partners before. Its strategic cooperation with Renault-Nissan<\/a> began in 2010 and covered small three-cylinder and four-cylinder engines, vans, and the smart architecture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The later turbo gasoline engine commonly described as a 1.3-liter unit, or roughly 79 cubic inches, was openly presented by Renault as a joint Daimler-Alliance development for compact models sold by both groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new arrangement has an unexpected twist. Aurobay now sits inside Horse Powertrain, which is owned 45% by Renault Group, 45% by Geely, and 10% by Aramco. Renault is not directly supplying the CLA\u2019s engine, but it has not vanished from the industrial map either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Mercedes chose this route<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Developing a new gasoline engine is expensive, especially when automakers are also pouring money into batteries<\/a>, charging systems, software, and electric platforms. Sharing components and production volume lets Mercedes keep a competitive hybrid option without carrying the entire industrial burden alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company\u2019s earlier cooperation documents explicitly pointed to \u201ceconomies of scale\u201d and stronger global competitiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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That strategy also gives Mercedes room to serve drivers who are not ready for a fully electric car. In a city commute, the electric motor can handle low-demand moments that would otherwise waste fuel, while the gasoline engine remains available for long trips without charging stops. It is a bridge technology, but bridges are meant to lead somewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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