Can you believe it? Mercedes has failed to sell a single Mercedes G 580 EQ in the US. Sales of the Mercedes G 580 EQ are seven times lower than those of the combustion engine model.
The Mercedes G 580 EQ is selling very poorly. After the EQS/EQS SUV, Mercedes seems to be experiencing another failure with a luxury electric model.
The German newspaper Handelsblatt reports that Mercedes has sold only 1,450 Mercedes G 580 EQs in Europe since its launch last fall, while around 9,700 combustion engine models were sold during the same period. The ratio is 1:7. While sales of the Mercedes G 580 EQ are unexpectedly weak, sales of the Mercedes G-Class with conventional engines have increased by 18% during this period.
Unfortunately, the Mercedes G 580 EQ is selling poorly worldwide. According to Handelsblatt, only 58 units were sold in China, 61 in South Korea, and none in the US, even though it is officially available in the Mercedes-Benz USA network. In Germany, however, the car has had some success, with 326 units registered between January and April 2025 out of a total of 2,454 registered according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA).
Why is the Mercedes G 580 EQ not selling, and what are the reasons? We have identified four main reasons, one of which is not related to Mercedes.
Range
Mercedes promises a WLTP range of 468 km and a WLTP consumption of 28.9 kWh/100 km. In reality, in the test we conducted, we recorded a consumption of 41 kWh/100 km. Taking into account the large 116 kWh net battery, this results in a range of almost 300 km, which is quite low. If you switch to Low-range mode, consumption increases to 50 kWh/100 km, corresponding to a range of 230 km.
High weight and low payload
The Mercedes G 580 EQ weighs 3,085 kg when empty and has a low payload. In order to be driven with a category B driver’s license, the total weight must not exceed 3.5 tons.
Also, the car cannot tow a trailer because Mercedes does not allow it. This is probably one of the reasons why the car is not sold at all in the USA. And even if it were possible to tow a trailer, the total weight would exceed 3.5 tons and a category C truck license would be required.
Charging power
Mercedes says it officially charges at 200 kW, but in our test, the maximum charging power was 127 kW, given that we arrived at the station with a preheated battery and a low charge level of 30%.
Rich people don’t buy electric cars
The base price of €142,622 is not high compared to the G 500 and AMG G 63. Thus, the Mercedes G 580 EQ is €9,000 more expensive than the G 500 with a 3-liter inline 6-cylinder engine but €48,600 cheaper than the top-of-the-range AMG G 63 with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine and 585 PS. So the price itself is not an impediment compared to the other versions of the G-Class.
However, there is a trend in the market that is not unique to Mercedes but also applies to other manufacturers. Expensive electric models are difficult to sell. Anyone who spends a lot of money on a car wants a car with a combustion engine. And in this case, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a limousine, sports car, or SUV.
Mercedes has done everything possible to give the electric version the legendary off-road capabilities of the classic version. And we can say that it has succeeded. The sophisticated construction with four motors, one on each wheel, has allowed Mercedes to offer functions similar to the lockable differentials and reduction gear of the classic version. In addition, the G-Steering function is very helpful in off-road. But despite all this, it has not found enough fans.