This model is a "total failure", Mercedes takes the hit
Its launch, in April 2024, was highly anticipated. However, just over a year later, this new version of an iconic Mercedes model, born in 1979, has turned out to be a real fiasco. The German business daily Handelsblatt recently looked at the sales of the G-Class, the off-road vehicle from the famous German manufacturer, which was released for the first time last year in a 100% electric version. The G-Class 580EQ, that's its name, has not found its audience. In twelve months, only 1,450 units have been sold, almost seven times fewer than the thermal version (9,700 over the same period).
This luxury 4x4, equipped with four engines developing a total of 587 horsepower, was intended to embody the transition to electric power for one of Mercedes' most iconic vehicles, notably the winner of the Paris-Dakar in 1983. Obviously, the G-Class remains a niche car, whose characteristics may seem quite far removed from those one would expect of an electric vehicle. It's a far cry from the small city car intended for short urban trips, where driving is most suited to electric power. But Mercedes wanted to give it a try, to see if some of its customers were ready to take the plunge and buy a model that couldn't be more off-road.
It's clear that the results have come as a shock to the brand's management. One of them even told Handelsblatt that "the car is still on the dealerships' hands: it's a total failure." It must be said that the electric version of the G-Class has many weak points. While its materials and equipment are impeccable—which is expected of a car with an entry ticket exceeding €175,000—the 4x4 isn't sufficiently adapted to electric power.
Its weight of over 3 tons (3,085 kilos) is a handicap for its autonomy. Despite a large 116 kWh battery, its WLTP cycle range is limited to 473 kilometers. This is due to very high average consumption (between 28 and 30 kWh/100 km), which proves so greedy on the highway that the range drops to a maximum of 200 kilometers. To make matters worse, owners must make do with 11 kW of alternating current and 200 kW of direct current for a charging time of 32 minutes to increase the battery from 10 to 80%. Criticized for its high price and its autonomy, the G-Class 580EQ is also criticized for its limited load capacity of 415 kilos.
So many weaknesses that seem to doom the electric version of the German off-roader. Moreover, Mercedes, again according to Handelsblatt's sources, is reportedly considering changing its strategy regarding the future "small G-class," the compact version of the 4x4 expected in 2027. Initially conceived as a 100% electric model, it could ultimately be available in a combustion engine version. The G 580 EQ's flop could thus have a lasting impact on the manufacturer's electrification direction.
L'Internaute
