Major car brand abandons plan to discontinue one of UK’s best-selling motors and delays plan to go all-electric by 2030

A MAJOR car brand is discontinuing one of its iconic models as it pivots towards an all-electric future.

The car giant has announced it will phase out one of its most popular petrol cars as it focuses on producing EVs going forward.

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After delaying plans to halt production on the legendary Mercedes-Benz A-Class this year, Mercedes has now confirmed that it will be replaced in 2026.

The move comes as the firm prepares to go fully electric by 2030, as part of their “electric first” strategy.

There has been much speculation about about platform the all-electric new A-Class would use, with many car fanatics claiming it would have to be the "MMA".

This platform was specifically designed for "entry luxury" models, and was shown off for the first time at the Munich Motor Show last year.

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The platform boasts a 466-mile range - putting the current Mercedes EQS 450- mile range to shame.

That means that the A-Class would be set to have the greatest all-electric range of any car you could buy in the UK.

However, CEO Ola Källenius has suggested that demand for these EVs will be small at first.

He said: “I don’t think anyone had ever thought that the once-in-a-century transformation of the auto industry will be a straight line. There will be peaks and troughs."

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He added that cost parity between EVs and petrol vehicles is currently miles away.

An electric Mercedes could cost customers upwards of £50,000, meanwhile, the classic A-Class starts at £31,905.

Comfortable, attractive and generously kitted-up from standard, the A-Class has always sold well, even if it’s not the most logical option to the bargain-hunting hatchback buyer.

The cabin is hard to fault - it's leather, luxurious, roomy, and has everything a driver could dream of.

Today's A-Class has been gloriously kitted out with a widescreen digital dash, and a new voice assistant.

Some A-Classes even come with head-up displays, massaging seats, adaptive cruise control and multi-layered driver-assistance tech.

Not to mention its mega-powerful engine.

The A250 (2-litre petrol) is 224hp and can box off 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds. That’s the most potent until hot AMG versions follow later.