Mercedes-Benz is reportedly facing lower-than-expected demand for the electric version of its iconic G-Class SUV, prompting internal concerns and potentially influencing the development plans for a smaller, all-electric G model scheduled for 2027, according to a report by Handelsblatt.
Citing data from market researchers Dataforce and Marklines, the report indicates that global sales of the G580 with EQ technology reached just 1,450 units by the end of April 2025. In contrast, approximately 9,700 combustion-engine G-Class vehicles were sold during the same period, marking a nearly sevenfold difference in demand.
Sales figures from individual countries suggest minimal traction in key markets for electric vehicles. Since the electric G-Class launched in late 2024, Mercedes reportedly sold only 58 units in China, 61 in South Korea, and none in the United States. The figures reflect broader challenges in the electric luxury vehicle segment, where consumer adoption has not matched earlier expectations.
Sources familiar with the matter suggest that the electric G-Class’s underwhelming performance is not only linked to market trends, but also to technical compromises. Built on the platform of the combustion-engine G-Class, the EV version lacks advantages typically seen in purpose-built electric vehicles, such as enhanced interior space and optimized weight distribution. Weighing around 3.1 tonnes, the vehicle offers a modest payload of just 415 kilograms and no towing capability. Its WLTP-rated range stands at 473 kilometers, despite a sizable 116 kWh battery.
Mercedes has not disclosed specific sales targets for the model but stated to Handelsblatt that sales figures remain “on target.” Internally, however, there appears to be growing skepticism, with concerns that the electric G-Class has not resonated with its intended niche market.
The outcome may influence Mercedes’ next step in the G-Class lineage—the smaller “g-Class,” which is set to launch in 2027 and currently planned as an electric-only vehicle. However, Handelsblatt reports that a combustion variant is now under consideration. Insiders say that modifying the vehicle to accommodate a petrol engine would involve only modest design changes, mainly at the front of the vehicle.
The smaller G-Class is expected to draw from Mercedes’ modular platform strategy, combining the MMA architecture, developed for compact electric and hybrid vehicles like the CLA, with elements from the MB.EA platform designed for larger vehicles. This flexible approach reflects the automaker’s broader shift away from rigid architectures to more adaptable modular systems amid a fluid EV market landscape.