Very like the four-cylinder AMG C63, Mercedes had excessive hopes for the electrical G-Class. The corporate naively believed clients would seamlessly change to the EV model, assuming the facility of the Geländewagen model would offset the downsides of electrification. Nevertheless, a brand new report paints a grim image of how the market has responded to the G580 with EQ Know-how.
In line with German enterprise newspaper Handelsblatt (subscription required), Mercedes executives have brutally admitted that the electrical G-Class is a business failure. One government, who understandably wished to stay nameless, said: “The automotive is sitting like lead at sellers; it’s a whole flop.” One other supervisor quoted by the respected publication mentioned: “It’s a distinct segment mannequin; the gross sales quantity may be very low.”
Handelsblatt examined the numbers and located that only one,450 models had been bought by the top of April, practically a yr after the mannequin’s launch. In distinction, the common G-Class with gasoline and diesel engines achieved about 9,700 gross sales, making it virtually seven instances extra in style than its EV counterpart.
Regardless of the disappointing figures, a Mercedes spokesperson claimed the posh model is “on track with our gross sales figures,” however declined to offer additional particulars. One other government from the three-pointed star was extra candid, admitting: “Individuals need an actual G-Class – with six or eight cylinders.”
Motor1 has reached out to Mercedes for remark and can replace the story as soon as we hear again.
In the meantime, why is the electrical G-Class a tricky promote? A number of components come to thoughts. First, it’s considerably costlier than the six-cylinder gasoline and diesel variations. The European mannequin has a most payload of simply 415 kilograms (915 kilos) and lacks a towbar choice, making it far much less sensible than the ICE mannequin. The latter has a decades-long repute as a go-anywhere, do-anything off-roader.
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It additionally weighs a hefty 3,085 kilograms in Europe and practically the identical 6,746 kilos in the USA. Vary is one other weak level, although not sudden, given the car’s substantial curb weight. The G580 with EQ Know-how is rated at 473 kilometers (294 miles) on the WLTP cycle, however its EPA-certified vary is considerably decrease at simply 239 miles (385 kilometers).
Handelsblatt additionally experiences that the low demand is forcing Mercedes to rethink its plans for the so-called “Little G.” Whereas the downsized model remains to be anticipated later this decade, it might not be an EV-only mannequin as initially supposed. Rumors counsel the smaller G may supply combustion engines to broaden its attraction. In line with an organization supervisor, an ICE variant is at present being “examined,” whereas an engineer famous that the added R&D prices could be “manageable.”
The Little G is outwardly nonetheless on monitor for a 2027 launch as an EV, nevertheless it’s more and more doubtless {that a} gasoline model will comply with, presumably with some type of hybridization baked in.
