Electric Mercedes G-Class Owner Loses $55K in 3 Months, Cost Over $14/mile Sparks Concern

In April this year, a user purchased a fully electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class (G580 Launch Edition) for RMB 1.6 million (including all on-road costs). After registering the vehicle and driving it for 2,418 kilometers over three months, its current second-hand market value has dropped to RMB 1.19 million—a loss of approximately RMB 410,000, equivalent to a per-kilometer usage cost of about RMB 165.4. Other owners have reported similar experiences: one owner paid RMB 1.75 million on-road and drove 7,585 kilometers, resulting in a per-kilometer cost of roughly RMB 72.5; another paid RMB 2.45 million on-road and covered 6,718 kilometers, incurring a per-kilometer cost as high as RMB 187.5. This model is the only version currently available in the Chinese market, with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of RMB 2.17 million. It measures 4,728 mm in length, 1,984 mm in width, and 1,992 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,890 mm, and features a five-seat configuration. The powertrain consists of four independent wheel-end permanent-magnet synchronous motors—one for each wheel—paired with a two-speed electric transmission per axle (featuring a low-range off-road gear ratio of 2:1 that doubles torque output). The system delivers a combined peak output of 432 kW (587 hp) and peak torque of 1,164 N·m, enabling a 0–100 km/h acceleration time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 170 km/h. The vehicle also supports advanced maneuvering functions such as G-TURN (on-the-spot turning) and G-STEERING (tank turn). It is equipped with a CATL ternary lithium battery pack offering a usable capacity of 116 kWh, delivering a CLTC-rated range of 571 km and a WLTP-rated range of 451 km. The car supports DC fast charging with a peak charging power of 210 kW.