The electric G-Class turned out to be a no-go - Handelsblatt
Mercedes had high hopes for the electric G-Class. The company believed that the strengths of the iconic SUV would compensate for the shortcomings of electrification. However, a new report from German business newspaper Handelsblatt paints a bleak picture of the market's reaction to the EQ G 580.
Here's What We Know
According to journalists, Mercedes executives have admitted that the electric G-Class was a commercial failure. One top executive, who wished not to be named, said, "The car is priced like lead in dealerships. It is a complete failure." Another executive, according to the well-known publication, said: "It is a niche model. The sales figures are very low."
Handelsblatt looked into the statistics and found that only 1,450 units of the electric G-Class had been sold by the end of April, almost a year after its launch. By comparison, sales of the regular G-Class with petrol and diesel engines totalled around 9,700 units, almost seven times more than the electric counterpart.
Despite the disappointing figures for the electric SUV, a Mercedes spokesperson said the brand's sales figures were on target, but declined to provide further details. Another Mercedes spokesperson was more candid, admitting, "People want a real G-Class - with six or eight cylinders."
In Germany, the EQ G 580, priced at around €135,000, is marginally more expensive than the petrol G 500. However, the electric version has a payload capacity of just 415kg and does not support the fitting of a towbar, making it far less practical than the combustion-engined model. The latter has enjoyed a reputation for decades as the off-roader that can do anything. In addition, the EQ G 580 weighs 3 tonnes and can travel up to 473 kilometres on a single charge in the WLTP cycle.
Handelsblatt reported that low demand for the electric G-Class has prompted Mercedes management to revise plans for the so-called "Little G-Class" project. A smaller version of the SUV is expected around 2027. It was supposed to be a purely electric model, but now there are rumours that following the electric motors, the smaller G will additionally get internal combustion engines. The company is currently assessing the technical and financial feasibility of expanding the number of modifications of the prospective model.
Source: Handelsblatt
