Electric "Hyundai" failed in sales

The electric version of the Mercedes-Benz G-class SUV, introduced in the spring of 2024, has not gained popularity. In Europe, for almost a year since the start of sales, only 1,450 such "Landwagens" were sold, while the sales volume of the version with internal combustion engine turned out to be seven times higher, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported on June 3.

In China, the world's largest market, Mercedes-Benz has sold only 58 electric G 580s with EQ Technology (full name of the model) since last fall, and 61 units in South Korea. Not a single such car has been delivered to the United States, the newspaper notes, citing data on car registrations.

A representative of Mercedes-Benz, in response to a request, said that the company was following the plan, but refused to disclose the sales figures of the model. Sources of the publication said that electric "Landwagens" are idle in dealers' warehouses. However, they also called this model a niche model and noted that the volume of its production is very low. Inside the company, many are already writing off the electric SUV, the newspaper writes.

Experts explain the lack of demand for the G 580 with EQ Technology by the specifics of the electric vehicle's design. Externally, it practically does not differ from the version with an internal combustion engine, however, it has an increased curb weight, a more modest power reserve (about 470 km on a single charge) and cannot tow a trailer. However, thanks to four electric motors (one per wheel) such a "Landwagen" can be deployed on the spot like a tank.

It is assumed that against the background of this situation, Mercedes-Benz may reconsider its approach to forming a promising model line. For example, a smaller version of the G-class, planned for 2027, may have a modification with an internal combustion engine in addition to the originally planned all-electric version.

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Earlier in the day, it was reported that in the year since the start of sales of Xcite cars in Russia, about 8 thousand cars of this brand have been sold. During the same time, almost 20 thousand Xcite cars were assembled at the automobile plant in St. Petersburg (formerly Nissan).