Mercedes-Benz will continue producing old G-class

• Published On: 24 May 2018
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The more utilitarian version of the G-class will be manufactured in Austria.

The New G-Class was first shown at the 2018 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit but the original G-class has been in production since 1979. So, for G-Wagen aficionados, Mercedes-Benz announced it will keep making the basic version of the SUV, known popularly by the code 461. The luxurious 463 version will be discontinued. The old SUV and the new one will be built side-by-side at its manufacturing plant in Graz, Austria.

Ian Hadley James, marketing executive for the G-class range, said, “We’ve been fascinated in the last few years. We’ve seen a growth in the 461 sales as well. It’s becoming more unique, there’s no other vehicle like that out there. And yet there’s still very much a need for that sort of vehicle.”

Government officials and the armed forces are also big buyers of this car. The 461 will be sold in markets that accept Euro-V emission norms and it remains to be seen when they will upgrade the engine to be Euro-VI compliant.