Mercedes unveils 2025 electric G-Class, with 4 motors and tank turns
Mercedes unveiled its 2025 electric G-Class tonight – which it’s calling the “G580 with EQ technology” – in Beverly Hills, CA, and we’re here at the reveal with all the details.
Mercedes first surprised us with its “EQG” concept at IAA in 2021. Now it’s heading to production, but with a somewhat more plain name.
At the time we had almost no details, but now we’re learning all about the upcoming electric off-roader here in the wilds of… Beverly Hills, California.
So, maybe no heavy off-roading demonstrations are in the cards for today.
But the electric G-Class does have off-roading chops. It comes with 4 independent electric motors putting out a combined 579hp and 879 lb-ft of torque. Each motor has its own 2-speed transmission, giving access to a low-gear with 2:1 gear reduction for off-roading, and the 4 independent motors mean the car can vector torque to whichever wheels need it – even better than a locking differential.
4 wheel motors also means the G580 will be capable of what Mercedes calls G-Turn, its branding of what we’ve previously seen referred to as “tank turn” when Rivian was working on it (but later abandoned and pivoted to “front dig mode” instead). This means it will be able to do 2 full rotations on the spot by spinning the wheels on the left and right sides of the car in opposite directions at once.
However, this feature is more of a toy, just for fun. Mercedes also has a G-steering feature, which is sort of a mini-version of the G-turn, which will help you make extremely tight turns by activating torque vectoring to help make tight turns (though unlike the EQS, it doesn’t have rear-wheel steering).
The G580 can climb up to a 100% (45º) grade and hold stable on lateral slopes of up to 35º, ford 33.5 inches of water (6 inches deeper than the gas version), with 9.8 inches of ground clearance, a 32º approach angle, 30.7º departure angle and 20.3º breakover angle, with independent double wishbone suspension in the front and a solid de Dion axle in the rear.
To help you see where you’re going, the G580 has a “transparent hood” feature, which uses a camera to show what’s in front of and under the car on the internal display. This is important for off-roading, because if you’re going over a ridge or something and can’t see under the hood, the transparent hood can help you see where you’re going.
But it’s also a Mercedes, which means it’s fancy inside. And the 2025 model will be particularly fancy, as it’s only available in EDITION ONE trim with lots of exclusive interior and exterior touches. But you’ll be able to customize the car basically any way you want through Mercedes’ MANUFAKTUR car customization process.
So whether you’re conquering a real jungle or just the concrete jungle of… Rodeo Drive, or Las Vegas for the latest cryptocurrency convention, you’ll feel right at home in the Mercedes G-Class.
That fanciness is certainly needed to justify its price, which Mercedes hasn’t yet released, but said that it will be “in the ballpark” of the G63 (which starts at around $180,000).
The G580 is smaller than the the gas-powered G-Class. At 182″ it’s about 10 inches less long, but just as tall (78″) and as wide (76″). It shares the same 113.8in wheelbase as the gas model.
Otherwise, the exterior shares the boxy design of the gas version. Unlike many EVs, it doesn’t adopt a particularly curvy exterior, and still has a textured grille area.
The decision to stick with a traditional-looking grille goes hand in hand with Mercedes’ recent decision to add a “more classic grille option” to its EQS. And it turns out, if you want the G580 with the traditional G-Class grille, you can just get the standard grille, directly from the gas version, if you prefer it (but then you don’t get those cool lights).
And overall, Mercedes said it was very important to maintain the overall design of the G-Class. So it hasn’t tweaked it to make it look electric, other than some grille modifications and a couple aero bits.
Mercedes says the vehicle has “optimized aerodynamics,” which was surely a primary design intent of this vehicle that consists solely of straight lines. But actually, there have been a couple small changes, like a slightly modified A-pillar and a strip above the windshield to smooth out the front edge of the roof.
As for details on its electric drive capabilities, the aforementioned 4 motors can sprint to 60mph in an estimated 4.6 seconds, and reach a top speed of 112mph/180kmh. These aren’t the fastest numbers out there, but the car isn’t meant to be a racecar – Mercedes could have gone with a bigger battery, or more power, but that would have meant other compromises elsewhere, and Mercedes said that it was far more important to focus on the total package.
Mercedes hasn’t told us a range number yet, but with a 116kWh battery and a face that’s even flatter than its electric-triangle-on-wheels competition, we can imagine its somewhere in the mid-200s. It’s 473km on WLTP, which is 293mi, but WLTP is a little more lenient than EPA numbers.
More importantly than overall range, Mercedes says the G-Class will DC charge from 10-80% in 32 minutes, with a 200kW peak charging rate (and an 11kW AC charge rate). That maths out to an average charge rate of approximately 150kW on DC over the full session, which is pretty reasonable.
Given the car’s massive 116kWh (usable) battery, it still doesn’t charge nearly as fast as a Hyundai/Kia E-GMP car, but it’s still quite good compared to other chunky EVs (the G580 weighs ~6,800lbs/3,805kg, with a GVWR of exactly 3,500kg – the maximum allowed by German law).
The G580 comes with 5 regenerative braking settings, including Mercedes “D-auto” setting, where the car intelligently decides to apply regenerative braking based on traffic conditions (we recently tried this setting on the eSprinter, but struggled to find a situation where it would be useful). Regen activates off-throttle, suggesting the possibility of one-pedal driving, but we haven’t had a chance to try it out and see if its max 217kW regen braking capacity is really strong enough to avoid most brake pedal usage.
For a final cool electric touch, the car has done something new with its iconic rear end. In place of the spare tire carrier that typically adorns the backside of the G-Class, there’s an optional compartment which can be used to store charging cables or the like. You can still opt for the spare tire, too, but I really like the charging box.
Electrek’s Take
Look, this is a G-Class. It’s a statement car, it’s an image car. If you like it, you know that you like it. For the majority of drivers, its off-road capabilities really won’t matter all that much.
What matters here is whether it stays true to the G-Class, and as far as we can tell, it does. It looks like a G-Class and it feels like a G-Class. The doors thunk closed like a G-Class.
And an important note – Mercedes said, “if the G can go electric, any car can go electric.” We, of course, agree. This is a car that has been defined in many ways by excess, with the gas version getting just 14 miles per gallon. And yet here it is, in electric trim, with a huge battery (but not out of line with other huge EVs), beating the gas version’s performance both on- and off-road.
As for the name – while “G580 with EQ technology” is a bit of a mouthful, I actually like the simple designation “G580.” Surely people will refer to it as “the electric G-Class” or the like, but by giving the car a regular model name, Mercedes is saying that it’s treating the car like a regular car.
Instead of siloing EVs into their own sub-brand, Mercedes is saying that this is a G-Class, and if you want a G-Class, this is a G-Class. Mercedes was clear that this is not a rational vehicle, that its customers don’t need a G-Class, they want a G-Class.
So there you go. If you want a G-Class, this is a G-Class.
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Environment
EcoFlow members can save up to 65% on power stations while supporting disaster relief during the 2025 Member’s Festival
Portable power station specialist EcoFlow is kicking off its third annual Member’s Festival this month and is offering a unique new rewards program to those who become EcoFlow members. The 2025 EcoFlow Member’s Festival will offer savings of up to 65% for its participating customers, and a portion of those funds will be allocated toward rescue power solutions for communities around the globe through the company’s “Power for All” fund.
EcoFlow remains one of the industry leaders in portable power solutions and continues to trek forward in its vision to power a new tech-driven, eco-conscious future. Per its website:
Our mission from day one is to provide smart and eco-friendly energy solutions for individuals, families, and society at large. We are, were, and will continue to be a reliable and trusted energy companion for users around the world.
To achieve such goals, EcoFlow has continued to expand its portfolio of sustainable energy solutions to its community members, including portable power stations, solar generators, and mountable solar panels. While EcoFlow is doing plenty to support its growing customer base, it has expanded its reach by giving back to disaster-affected communities by helping bolster global disaster response efforts the best way it knows how– with portable power solutions.
EcoFlow and its members look to provide “Power for All”
Since 2023, EcoFlow has collaborated with organizations worldwide as part of its “Power for All” mission. This initiative aims to ensure access to reliable and timely power to disaster-affected communities across the globe, including rescue agencies, affected hospitals, and shelters, to support rescue and recovery efforts.
This fund most recently provided aid for communities affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires, assistance to the Special Forces Charitable Trust (SFCT) in North Carolina following severe hurricanes, and support for non-profits engaged in hurricane preparedness in Florida and the Gulf Coast. Per Jodi Burns, CEO of the Special Forces Charitable Trust:
In the wake of devastating storms in Western North Carolina, reliable power was a critical need for the families we serve. Thanks to EcoFlow’s generous donation of generators, we were able to provide immediate relief, ensuring these families and their communities had access to power when they needed it most. We are so impressed with EcoFlow’s commitment to disaster response through their ‘Power for All’ program. It has made a tangible impact, and we are deeply grateful for their support and partnership in helping these families recover and rebuild.
In 2024, the US experienced 27 weather and climate events, each causing losses exceeding $1 billion, marking the second-highest annual total on record, according to National Centers for Environmental Information. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters underscore the critical need for reliable and timely power solutions during emergencies, much like EcoFlow and its members are helping provide through the “Power For All” initiative.
To support new and existing EcoFlow members, the company is celebrating its third annual Member’s Festival throughout April to offer a do-not-miss discount on its products and donate a portion of all sales to the “Power for All” fund to provide rescue power to those in need in the future. Learn how it all works below.
Save big and give back during the 2025 Member’s Festival
As of April 1st, you can now sign up to become an EcoFlow member to participate in the company’s exclusive 2025 Member Festival.
As a member, you can earn “EcoFlow Power Points” by completing tasks like registration, referrals, and product purchases and tracking your individual efforts toward disaster preparedness and recovery.
Beginning April 4, EcoFlow members will also be able to take advantage of exclusive discounts of up to 65% off select portable power stations, including the DELTA Pro Ultra, DELTA Pro 3, DELTA 2 Max, DELTA 3 Plus, RIVER 3 Plus, and more. However, these sale prices only last through April 25, so you’ll want to move quickly!
Click here to learn more about EcoFlow’s “Power for All” campaign. To register for EcoFlow’s 2025 Member Festival in the US, visit the EcoFlow website. To register as a member in Canada, visit here.
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Tesla is losing another top talent: its long-time head of software, David Lau, has reportedly told co-workers that he is exiting the automaker.
Tesla changed how the entire auto industry looks at software.
Before Tesla, it was an afterthought; user interfaces were rudimentary, and you had to go to a dealership to get a software update on your systems.
When Tesla launched the Model S in 2012, it all changed. Your car would get better through software updates like your phone, the large center display was responsive with a UI that actually made sense and was closer to an iPad experience than a car.
Tesla also integrated its software into its retail experience, service, and manufacturing.
David Lau deserves a lot of the credit for that.
He joined Tesla in 2012 as a senior manager of firmware engineering and quickly rose through the ranks. By 2014, he was promoted to director of firmware engineering and system integration, and in 2017, he became Vice President of software.
Lau listed the responsibilities of his team on his LinkedIn:
- Vehicle Software:
- Firmware for the powertrain, traction/stability control, HV electronics, battery management, and body control systems
- UI software and underlying Embedded Linux platforms
- Navigation and routing
- iOS and Android Mobile apps
- Distributed Systems:
- Server-side software and infrastructure that provides telemetry, diagnostics, over-the-air updates, and configuration/lifecycle management
- Data engineering and analytics platforms that power technical and business insights for an increasingly diverse set of customers across the company
- Diagnostic tools and fleet management, Manufacturing and Automation:
- Automation controls (PLC, robot)
- Server-side manufacturing execution systems that power all of Tesla’s production operations
- Product Security and Red Team for software, services, and systems across Tesla
Bloomberg reported today that Lau told his team he is leaving Tesla. The report didn’t include reasons for his stepping down.
Electrek’s Take
Twelve years at any company is a great run. At Tesla, it’s heroic. Congrats, David, on a great run. You undoubtedly had a significant impact on Tesla and software advancements in the broader auto industry.
He is another significant loss for Tesla, which has been losing a lot of top talent following a big wave of layoffs around this time last year.
I wonder who will take over. Michael Rizkalla, senior director of software engineering and vehicle firmware, is one of the most senior software engineers after Lau. He has been at Tesla for 7 years, and Tesla likes to promote within rather than hire outsiders.
There are also a lot of senior software execs working on AI at Tesla. Musk has been favoring them lately and he could fold Lau’s responsibilities under them.
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Kia’s electric SUVs are taking over. The EV3 is the best-selling retail EV in the UK this year, giving Kia its strongest sales start since it arrived 34 years ago. And it’s not just in the UK. Kia just had its best first quarter globally since it started selling cars in 1962.
Kia EV3 is the best-selling EV in the UK through March
In March, Kia sold a record nearly 20,000 vehicles in the UK, making it the fourth best-selling brand. It was also the second top-seller of electrified vehicles (EVs, PHEVs, and HEVs), accounting for over 55% of sales.
The EV3 remained the best-selling retail EV in the UK last month. Including the EV6, three-row EV9, and Niro EV, electric vehicles represented 21% of Kia’s UK sales in March.
Kia said the EV3 “started with a bang” in January, darting out as the UK’s most popular EV in retail sales. Through March, Kia’s electric SUV has held on to the crown. With the EV3 rolling out, Kia sold over 7,000 electric cars through March, nearly 50% more than in Q1 2024.
The EV3 was the best-selling retail EV in the UK in the first quarter and the fourth best-selling EV overall, including commercial vehicles.
Starting at £33,005 ($42,500), Kia said it’s the “brand’s most affordable EV yet.” It’s available with two battery packs, 58.3 kWh or 81.48 kWh, good for 430 km (270 miles) and 599 km (375 miles) of WLTP range, respectively.
With new EVs on the way, this could be just the start. Kia is launching several new EVs in the UK this year, including the EV4 sedan (and hatchback) and EV5 SUV. It also confirmed that the first PV5 electric vans will be delivered to customers by the end of the year.
Electrek’s Take
Globally, Kia sold a record 772,351 vehicles in the first quarter, its best since it started selling cars in 1962. With the new EV4, the brand’s first electric sedan and hatchback, launching this year, Kia looks to build on its momentum in 2025.
Kia has also made it very clear that it wants to be a global leader in the electric van market with its new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business, starting with the PV5 later this year.
Earlier today, we learned Kia’s midsize electric SUV, the EV5, is the fourth best-selling EV in Australia through March, outselling every BYD vehicle (at least for now). The EV5 is rolling out to new markets this year, including Canada, the UK, South Korea, and Mexico. However, it will not arrive in the US.
For those in the US, there are still a few Kia EVs to look forward to. Kia is launching the EV4 globally, including in the US, later this year. Although no date has been set, Kia confirmed the EV3 is also coming. It’s expected to arrive in mid-2026.
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