Mercedes Executive Slams All-Electric AMG GT Project as a Failure—Despite Already Being in Production

On July 17, 2024, a senior Mercedes-Benz executive harshly criticized the all-electric AMG GT four-door model and its powertrain, calling it a car that “should never have existed,” though the project can no longer be canceled. It has been revealed that development costs for AMG’s electric models exceeded $1 billion, while total R&D investment in the EQS and EQE SUV amounted to approximately €5 billion. These initiatives were spearheaded by Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius in response to competitive pressures stemming from Tesla’s surging stock price. However, sales of the EQ lineup plummeted by 90% year-over-year in 2024, leading the company’s board to deem the electric vehicle program a major failure and label the EQ models among the least successful products in the brand’s history. The new all-electric AMG GT retains the iconic large front grille of its combustion-engine counterpart, featuring an illuminated AMG vertical-bar grille that delivers high visual impact and instant recognizability when lit. The side profile showcases sleek, flowing lines and turbine-inspired multi-spoke wheels, staying true to the AMG GT family design language. At the rear, six circular turbine-style taillights ensure outstanding nighttime visibility. Built on the dedicated AMG.EA electric platform and inspired by the AMG GT XX concept car, the vehicle is equipped with three YASA axial-flux motors, delivering a combined peak output exceeding 1,169 horsepower and a top speed surpassing 300 km/h—making it the most powerful production model ever launched by AMG.