The Mercedes-Benz G-Class celebrates a production milestone of 600,000 units with a fully electric, Obsidian black metallic Mercedes‑Benz G580 rolling off the assembly line.
The iconic off-roader has been produced in Graz, Austria, at Magna Steyr vehicle assembly facilities on behalf of Mercedes-Benz since 1979.
Alongside the S and E classes, it’s one of the longest-produced passenger car model series in the history of Mercedes‑Benz with a cult-like following.
The first G-Models combined all-wheel drive, differential locks and the robust ladder frame with on-road driving comfort, and available with four engine variants, covering a power range from 53kW to 110kW.
In four decades it has evolved from a commercial vehicle to a lifestyle object, and retains the unmistakable and boxy silhouette and signature design elements such as round headlights, the exposed door hinges and spare wheel.
Modern variants are available with a variety of engines, but in South Africa it's only the diesel six-cylinder G450d, the twin-turbo petrol V8 G63 AMG and the battery-powered G580 that ushered the 46-year old model into the new electric era that can be bought.
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Available body styles in SA are exclusively long wheel base station wagons, while other markets have the option of open-top short wheel base station wagons.
Special and strictly limited vehicles have always been part of the G‑Class history. In 2013 the company unveiled the exclusive G63 six-by-six with six wheels, and last year, the highly exclusive small series Mercedes‑Benz G‑Class Edition STRONGER THAN THE 1980s was made to mark the 500,000th production anniversary.
In 2024 Mercedes-Benz created a special Stronger Than Diamonds Edition G-Class painted in the exclusive rosewood grey magno colour to commemorate Valentine’s Day. Limited to just 300 units, the exclusive variant of the G500 has 0.25-carat diamonds set into the four door locking pins, and exterior handles with embossed diamond logos.
In the same year, Mercedes-Benz also unveiled a one-of-a-kind, open-top Popemobile based on the all-electric G-Class for use by the late Pope Francis. It had an elevated seat, a heated seat and a grab bar.
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