Volkswagen Group Africa sets new monthly production record
In the latest of a series of milestone achievements, Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) has set a new record for the number of vehicles built in one month.
- Industry News
- 20 August 2026
South Africans can look forward to the new Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupé, which will kick off with two versions locally.
What is it?
The new CLE Coupé uses the conceptual and technical innovations of the C-Class and E‑Class. With its expressive design, exclusive comfort equipment for maximum individuality and confident, sporty driving performance, the new two-door car goes its own way.
The market launch of the CLE Coupé will start in Europe in November. The CLE Cabriolet will follow next year for open-air connoisseurs. With the new dream car series, Mercedes-Benz is fulfilling the wishes of many customers in the C- and E-Class segments.
Exterior:
From the front there is a forward-leaning front section (“shark nose”) with a low-slung bonnet, flat LED headlights with a unique design and the newly designed, three-dimensional radiator grille.
In the side view, a distinctively shaped edge structures the powerful volume. This character line runs from the headlight to the exterior mirror and from the rear light to the door handle. The muscular rear is characterised by flowing surfaces, smooth transitions and two-part LED lights with new contours and three-dimensional light bodies.
Interior:
Sporty luxury in a class of its own, focused fully on the driver is the concept for the interior design of the new CLE Coupé. In the cockpit are the free-standing 12.3-inch (21.3 cm) fully digital instrument display and the 11.9-inch (30.2 cm) central display in user-friendly portrait format.
Additional sportiness is created by the dynamic ambient lighting in 64 colours. Other highlights include the standard multi-function sports steering wheel in leather and new front seats developed exclusively for the CLE. They feature an avant-garde sports seat design with integrated headrests. In conjunction with the optional Burmester® 3D surround sound system, they each have two speakers at the level of the headrests.
Engines:
Thanks to consistent electrification and intelligent downsizing, the new CLE Coupé sets standards in efficiency. The range of engines includes 2-litre, four-cylinder units from the current modular Mercedes-Benz engine family.
South African customers will have a choice of two power options, namely the CLE 200 (150 kW + 17 kW and 320 Nm) and the more performance-focused CLE 300 (190 kW + 17 kW and 400 Nm) with standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The boost torque is 205 Nm.
Prices:
CLE 200 (R1 355 350) and the CLE 300 4Matic (R1 430 650).
In the latest of a series of milestone achievements, Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) has set a new record for the number of vehicles built in one month.
As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, FAW Trucks Southern Africa is highlighting the changing role of women in the transport and logistics industry and their growing contribution across the sector.
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