Arnold Schwarzenegger’s world’s first electric G-Class inspired Mercedes to do something radical
- The bodybuilder-turned-actor is a big fan of electric cars
- His $1 million purchase of an electric off-roader in 2017 put pressure on Mercedes-Benz
- Mercedes have finally delivered
Published on Jul 08, 2024 at 3:09 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jul 08, 2024 at 8:33 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s electric G-Class SUV is not only a seriously cool car – it’s also a trendsetter.
The Austrian born actor had gotten behind the wheel of the battery powered car in 2017 and was enamoured with it.
Within a year, he was putting pressure on Mercedes-Benz to make an electric offroader.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Electric Car
Arnie is known for his environmental advocacy and has fought climate change for over twenty years.
In his tenure as Governor of California from 2003 to 2011, the state became a leader in renewable energy.
He’s repeatedly called for moving away from fossil fuels and branded leaders who ignore climate change ‘stupid’.
Kreisel Electric’s G-Wagen was just the ride for him then – as it had replaced the diesel engine with an electric alternative.
It set the former bodybuilder back $1 million to own this car, but it was presented to him personally at Kreisel’s plant in Kitzbuehel, Austria.
Mercedes-Benz finally unveiled their answer to the electric wave earlier this year – the 2025 Mercedes Benz G 580 with EQ Technology.
It’s the first fully electric version of their off-road G-Class (G-Wagen) SUV.
Just like the Terminator actor himself, it’s Austrian built.
The G 580’s 116.0 kWh battery pack can travel up to 294 miles, while the Kreisel’s 80 kilowatt-hour pack allows for 186 miles before needing to be charged.
The rest of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s collection
Whilst he’s passionate about saving the planet – and not from SkyNet – Arnie is known for his love of cars.
With an accumulated £350 million fortune, the former bodybuilder has stacked up an impressive collection of vehicles.
Among his collection is a $282k Bentley Continental GT Convertible, a $64k Dodge Challenger SRT8, and a $217k Porsche 911 Convertible.
The former Governor of California has also a Tesla Roadster in his roster, which would have cost him around $192k.
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