Mercedes-Benz G 580 With EQ Technology Isn’t Selling Well

Not surprising in the least, Mercedes-Benz executives told Handelsblatt that sales of the G 580 with EQ Technology leave much to be desired. The German publication understands that a mere 1,450 such vehicles were sold through April 2025, which makes the zero-emission Gelandewagen a bit of a commercial flop.
 

One executive called it exactly that, a flop, because the G 580 with EQ Technology sits on dealer lots like lead. Another one, who also wished to remain anonymous for obvious reasons, was a bit more vanilla in explaining the current state of affairs. Said exec described the electric SUV as being a niche model, hence the low demand.
 
The most candid of executives who talked with Handelsblatt made it clear that customers what a proper G-Class with either six or eight cylinders. Speaking of which, the cited publication has learned that the redesigned G-Class with internal combustion achieved in the ballpark of 9,700 sales through April 2025.
 
While it’s hard to believe statements from people who understandably wish to remain anonymous, what does Mercedes-Benz AG have to say about this report? Our friends at Motor1 were recently contacted by Markus Nast, whose current role is global communications manager for compacts, midsizers, and the G-Class.
 
Nast’s statement does not touch upon the lack of demand for the G 580 with EQ Technology, but the devil is in the details. “Mercedes-Benz is prepared for all market scenarios,” said Nast. “Into the 2030s, we can flexibly offer vehicles with both a fully electric drivetrain or an electrified high-tech combustion engine.”
 
If that wasn’t clear enough, the following surely is: “Our customers decide what suits them best. This applies also to the G-Class.” The question is, will Mercedes admit defeat and cancel the G 580 with EQ Technology to focus on the internal combustion G-Class?
 
In our dreams, maybe. The Stuttgart-based automaker cannot afford to discontinue this fellow due to increasingly stringent emission, fuel economy, and noise regulations in Europe and quite a few other markets. Having an electric alternative further caters to the needs of a customer pool that will grow a lot by the end of the decade, and quite a bit more after the EU’s ban on the sale of ICE vehicles goes into effect.
 
We also have to remember that four electric motors help the G 580 with EQ Technology stand out from its dinosaur juice-drinking peers. The G-Turn feature comes to mind, enabling the incredibly heavy sport utility vehicle to perform a 360-degree turn on the spot with the simple press of a button on the dashboard.
 
Helpful in tight off-road situations but likely to be used by most customers to show off, the G-Turn feature also makes use of the steering wheel-mounted paddles. The driver simply needs to pull on the left one for a left turn or right for turning to the right. The final step is simply flooring the loud pedal to initiate the 360-degree turn.
 
As of this writing, the G 580 with EQ Technology carries a starting price of 161,500 dollars in the United States market, putting it between the inline-six G 550 and the V8-powered G 63. The internal combustion models retail at 148,250 and 186,100 bucks, respectively.