The Mercedes-Benz G 500 was officially launched in 2002 as the G 500, and achieved 3114 sales that year.[1] This eventually tapered down to some sub-1000 sales years, but by the 2010s sales began to increase again surpassing 3000 in 2014 and in 2015 it sold more than in its launch year, 3616.[41] In 2005, then Mercedes-AMG Chairman said that one third of all G-Class vehicles sold to civilians are the G 55 AMG model.