Surprisingly, the electric G ‘substantially contributed’ to the record-breaking 2025.
2025 wasn’t exactly kind to Mercedes. Total sales fell nine percent to 1,800,800 vehicles, but there was a silver lining. The G-Class had its best year ever, with demand rising 23 percent to 49,700 units. Never before has the luxury automaker sold so many Geländewagens in a single year since the venerable off-roader debuted in 1979.
Mercedes doesn’t break down G-Class sales by powertrain, separating combustion-engine versions from the fully electric model. However, somewhat surprisingly, the company says the G580 with EQ Technology “substantially contributed” to the record result and attracted new buyers. That’s despite a report from German business newspaper Handelsblatt, which cited a company executive last June describing the EV version as a “complete flop.” The same Mercedes higher-up was quoted as saying, “The car is sitting like lead at dealers.”
Looking ahead, Mercedes plans to diversify the G-Class lineup. It has already teased the return of the convertible and promises additional new variants, though without offering details. It’s worth noting that the smaller G will be a distinct model, so its sales figures will likely be reported separately. It too will use a body-on-frame platform, albeit different from that of its larger sibling. Expect both combustion engines and electric drivetrains when it debuts in 2027.
Whether this generation of the G-Class will spawn more eccentric derivatives, such as another Landaulet or a six-wheel AMG version, remains to be seen. Given Mercedes’ ongoing commitment to the V12, a return of twelve cylinders under the hood would be welcome, although tuners like Brabus have already created a spiritual successor to the G65.
2025 was also the year Mercedes built its 600,000th G-Class, 46 years after production began. Remarkably, around 80 percent of all G-Classes ever made are still on the road, living up to the “Stronger Than Time” marketing slogan you’ve likely heard in recent years. As a reminder, the go-anywhere SUV isn’t built by Mercedes itself, but by Magna Steyr at its plant in Graz, Austria.
Motor1’s Take: Mercedes continues to print money with the G-Class, even if its customer base has changed significantly since the early days. Once an all-terrain workhorse, the G is now a status symbol, and wealthy buyers can’t seem to get enough of it. Expanding the lineup should help sustain this strong sales momentum.
Mercedes is smart to develop a smaller, more affordable G to capitalize on the prestige earned by the legendary off-roader. Arriving on the heels of record sales for the full-size model, the downsized version comes at an ideal time. As long as gasoline engines remain a priority, the company should have another winner on its hands.
Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang:
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