Magna Steyr Mercedes-Benz G-Class History

The G-Class (Geländewagen, 'cross-country vehicle') was born from a 1972 agreement between Daimler-Benz and Steyr-Daimler-Puch. The Shah of Iran's suggestion that Mercedes develop a military off-roader accelerated the programme; Stuttgart designed the body and engineered the drivetrain while Graz developed the production plans and built the factory. Series production began in 1979, and the vehicle has been continuously assembled at the same Graz plant — first by Steyr-Daimler-Puch, then by Magna Steyr after the 1998 acquisition — every year since.

Under the contract's original terms, the G-Wagen was badged 'Puch G' in Austria, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, and several Eastern European markets where the Puch name carried more recognition than Mercedes-Benz. This arrangement gave the Austrian plant its own named product even as the underlying engineering was Mercedes. The vehicle survived well beyond expectations: a light refresh came in 2012 and a full redesign in 2018, but the body-on-frame layout, live axles, and hand-assembly in Graz have never changed. As of 2025, the G-Class remains in production in Graz, making it the longest-running continuous contract in Magna Steyr's history — over 45 years and counting.