Another decade left in Merc G-Class

There is at least a decade of life left in Mercedes-Benz’s venerable G-Wagen, according to its development boss, Axel Harries.

It might be more than 30 years old, but Mercedes-Benz’s board has just approved a plan for the hard-core G-Class that will stretch it out until at least 2023.

“The G-Wagen has at least another 10 years life in it,” Mr Harries insisted.

“We showed our strategy to the board for this. It’s on our strategic planning cycle from 2013 and it’s only approved until 2023 because our cycles are 10 years. There is no reason it can’t go for longer.”

Sales of the aging ladder-frame SUV have more than doubled since 2009 to reach 10,000 units worldwide last year. At least half of its volume in the US comes from its high-margin G 63 AMG version, so it’s also providing Benz with plenty of profit.

Cheaper to build than Land Rover’s even more venerable Defender, the G-Wagen has found new strength in the US, Germany, China, the Middle East, Russia and Japan.

However, the G-Class has only a relatively small toe-hold in Australia, where the hard-core off-road market is dominated by Japanese brands (namely Toyota) and where it replaces the Defender as the basis for the army’s light transport duties.

“In our strategy directions we have a lot, including a smaller G-Wagen but we have to be very careful if we just use the name ‘G-Wagen’ on something that doesn’t have its qualities,” Mr Harries explained.

“We have to bear in mind that it’s a vehicle with a true off-road ability and just making a fake vehicle would not reflect the heritage of the G-Wagen properly. That’s not the right approach.

“Anyway, we already have a short- and long-wheelbase of this, so we can’t go much smaller. It’s also already narrower than most SUVs and we even do 6X6 versions for the military in Australia and Sweden.

“The G is back on track in the Mercedes-Benz portfolio again.”

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