It's been nearly three years since Mercedes announced plans to scale down the G-Class formula for a more compact and affordable version. Following the teaser released in September 2023 at the IAA show in Munich, the off-roader has received a multitude of nicknames, including Little G, Baby G, and Junior G. Mercedes itself has been using the lowercase “g” in “g-Class” to set it apart from its bigger brother, but without specifying when the model will hit the market.
All signs point to a 2027 launch, and when the day comes, the little brother to the venerable Geländewagen could wear the Made in Hungary label. Automotive News Europe cites people familiar with Mercedes who say the smaller G will be assembled at the Kecskemét site. While the company has never officially announced where the vehicle would be built, many assumed it would come to life at the Rastatt factory in Germany alongside the CLA.
View Price on AmazonThe alleged decision to build the vehicle at the company’s plant in Hungary apparently stems from a desire to cut costs. Mercedes has lower operating costs in Kecskemét than in Rastatt, and it’s looking to save money by building the mini G in Hungary rather than on its home turf. Before it can save money, the three-pointed star needs to spend some. It’s pouring €1 billion into expanding the Kecskemét factory to boost annual capacity to up to 400,000 units, making it the largest plant in its European production network.
According to the report, the Hungarian site is projected to account for as much as 30 percent of Mercedes’ entire European production, double its current share. To get there, it’s hiring approximately 3,000 new employees, bringing the workforce to around 7,500. In theory, building the g-Class (or whatever it’s called) in Hungary instead of Germany could make the vehicle cheaper to buy. Of course, that’s only true if Mercedes decides to pass some of the savings on to customers.
What will they get? Certainly not a vehicle as capable off the beaten path as the full-size G. However, logic suggests it’ll be far better on rough roads than the similarly sized GLB. The two might not be as closely related as everyone thinks, given that Mercedes boss Ola Källenius once said the g is a “completely new development.” Regardless of where production takes place, the new arrival is expected to be more affordable than initially believed.
Source: motor1.com
