In the spring of 2024, Mercedes-Benz revolutionized the legendary G-Class by turning it into an electric vehicle . A year later, the German business publication Handelsblatt decided to find out what success the Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology (that is the full name of the model) has achieved on the global market. And it turned out that this G-Class, to put it mildly, did not find a response among buyers. In Europe, only 1,450 electric versions were sold in total. In the important markets of South Korea and China, sales are downright laughable: 61 and 58 cars, respectively. Data for the North American market is not yet available, but good results are not expected there either. Meanwhile, G-wagens with internal combustion engines found approximately 9,700 buyers during the same period.
Even taking into account the niche nature of the electric modification, it turned out that such Geliks linger for a long time in warehouses. According to statements by Mercedes-Benz managers who wished to remain anonymous, the electric G-class hangs around the dealers’ necks “like lead.” Another source confirmed that even for such a narrow segment, sales of G-electric cars are too low. A third Mercedes-Benz manager reasonably noted: people need real Gelendvagens with six or eight cylinders, not electric ones.
At the same time, the official response of the Mercedes-Benz press service to foreign journalists is full of optimism: the fourth quarter of 2024 was the most successful for the G-class in the entire history of the model, and the first quarter of 2025 showed an increase in sales of 18% compared to the same period last year. However, the press service meant the combined sales of all modifications of the SUV, and preferred not to disclose the specific indicators of the electric car, getting off with a standard answer: “we provided customers with a flexible choice of power plants, and buyers themselves will decide what suits them best.”
However, according to the same sources of German journalists, Mercedes-Benz has already thought about the fate of the future “reduced” version of the G-class, which was announced in February. Initially, it was assumed that such a Mercedes-Benz g-class would look like its older brother, but behind the brutal appearance would be hidden an electric filling. Now the plans have been revised: allegedly, engineers are working on adapting the internal combustion engine for the small g-class. The debut of such a Mercedes is scheduled for 2027, but due to the need for improvements, it may be postponed to a later date.
