Mercedes-Benz India has said every car it has sold in the country since January 2026 is compatible with E25 ethanol-blended petrol, making it one of the first luxury carmakers in India to prepare its portfolio ahead of any mandate for higher ethanol blends.
The announcement comes months after India completed the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol. More recently, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) notified technical standards for higher ethanol blends, including E22, E25, E27 and E30, signalling the government’s efforts to prepare the regulatory framework for fuels beyond E20.
- Mercedes cars in India have been E20-compatible since 2020
- Announcement made at the launch of the AMG E 53 plug-in hybrid
- Company to go ahead with a multi-powertrain strategy in India
Mercedes-Benz prepared line-up ahead of future ethanol norms
Speaking at the launch of the Mercedes-AMG E 53, Mercedes-Benz India MD and CEO Santosh Iyer said the company upgraded its India portfolio in anticipation of future fuel regulations. Explaining the decision, Iyer said, “The Mercedes customers expect that we will learn the legislation and upcoming trends. There are a lot of discussions on E25. It may not happen, but we want to offer cars which are compliant.”
According to Iyer, Mercedes-Benz adopted E25 compatibility to future-proof its products as discussions continue around increasing ethanol blending beyond E20. He added that the company had similarly made its India line-up E20-compatible from 2020, around three years before the fuel became mandatory.
Announcement follows recent E20 fuel quality concerns
The announcement comes weeks after Mercedes-Benz highlighted concerns over fuel adulteration rather than the E20 blend itself. The company had said inconsistent fuel quality could affect vehicle performance and called for stricter quality control as higher ethanol blends are introduced.
Mercedes-Benz to continue offering multiple powertrains
Mercedes-Benz said it will continue offering a mix of internal combustion engine, battery electric and plug-in hybrid models in India instead of focusing on a single powertrain technology. “Our job and responsibility is to offer good options across the spectrum, including gasoline with an E25,” he said.
The AMG E 53 is the brand’s latest plug-in hybrid model in India after the recently introduced S-Class Plug-in Hybrid. Mercedes-Benz says customer demand in India continues to be spread across conventional ICE models and electrified vehicles, supporting its multi-powertrain strategy.
With inputs from Sergius Baretto
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
