Mercedes-Benz Launches Its Most Ambitious Product Push Yet as the G-Class Celebrates 600,000 Units Built

Mercedes-Benz is staging a serious comeback. After a rocky start to 2025 and a pause in U.S. EV sales, the German automaker is charging ahead with what it calls the “biggest product launch program in the history of Mercedes-Benz.” The plan, revealed in a recent investor document, outlines no fewer than 18 new vehicles set to debut in 2026 alone, with even more rolling out into 2027. It’s an aggressive move aimed at revitalizing a brand that’s seen sales slip and confidence waver.

The numbers speak for themselves. Global sales dropped 3 percent in 2024, and the first half of 2025 saw another 6.2 percent decline. Compounding that challenge was the recent halt in EV sales in the U.S. due to regulatory compliance issues with new federal battery sourcing rules. But instead of retreating, Mercedes is regrouping. The pause, as reported by Automotive Addicts, is temporary—and the automaker has made it clear: their electric ambitions are far from over.

In fact, Mercedes is leaning harder than ever into electrification, even as it continues to refine its combustion-engine offerings. The upcoming product roadmap includes a mix of facelifts, platform upgrades, and all-new models. Among the expected launches are next-gen versions of the GLA and GLB compact SUVs, arriving in both gas and electric forms. In the “Core” segment, models like the C-Class and GLC are due for mid-cycle refreshes, joined by new EV variants. At the top of the food chain, both the S-Class and EQS are getting significant upgrades, with Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius confirming that the company is spending far more on the S-Class update than it typically would on a facelift.

The brand isn’t stopping at updates. It’s expanding the lineup too. Mercedes has already confirmed an electric CLA and CLA Shooting Brake, a C-Class EV, and perhaps most intriguing, a “Little G” SUV designed as a compact sibling to the iconic G-Class. AMG is joining the charge with its first dedicated EVs, including a GT XX-based super sedan and a corresponding performance SUV. And for those not ready to say goodbye to combustion, a new AMG V8 engine is on the way in 2027, planned to remain in production well into the 2030s.

That blend of ICE and EV models will also come with a new unified design language. The current EQ styling, shaped by extreme aerodynamic efficiency, is being phased out in favor of a more cohesive look across the brand. The shift comes after internal feedback suggested the EQ design direction wasn’t connecting with customers the way Mercedes had hoped.

While the focus is clearly on the future, Mercedes is also celebrating a key milestone that speaks to its past success. On August 5, 2025, the 600,000th G-Class rolled off the production line in Graz, Austria. The milestone model was an obsidian black G 580 with EQ Technology, a fully electric version of the iconic SUV, with combined energy consumption rated between 30.3 and 27.7 kWh per 100 km. Since 1979, the G-Class has earned its status as one of the most recognizable and capable off-road vehicles on the market—and this latest chapter in its story shows it’s not slowing down anytime soon.

From its origins as a military-grade off-roader to its current role as a luxury icon, the G-Class has managed to evolve while retaining its rugged DNA. Key features like the ladder frame, 100% locking differentials, round headlights, and the side-hinged rear door remain in place. Customization has become a cornerstone of the G’s identity too, with more than 90 percent of customers choosing at least one MANUFAKTUR option and over a million personalization combinations now available—including 20,000 paint colors as of 2024.

In typical G-Wagen fashion, Mercedes marked the 600,000-unit milestone with style and heritage in mind. Past special editions like the STRONGER THAN THE 1980s have kept the G’s history alive, and more tributes are planned in the coming years.

So while the EV pause may have raised eyebrows, it’s clear that Mercedes-Benz isn’t stepping away from the future. Instead, it’s regrouping, refining, and preparing for a wave of vehicles that blend tradition with transformation. Whether it’s an all-new G-Class EV or a reimagined S-Class, the next two years are shaping up to be some of the most exciting in the brand’s modern history.