Mercedes-Benz India is preparing to significantly expand its electric vehicle portfolio, with more than six EV launches planned over the next 18-24 months. The rollout has begun with the launch of the CLA and is part of a broader push to introduce electric options across the brand’s core model range.
The shift marks a move away from Mercedes’s earlier EV strategy in India, which focused on high-end models, towards a multi-segment EV line-up. This is aimed at expanding reach as EV adoption in the luxury segment continues to evolve.
- CLA Electric to serve as the entry point to Mercedes’s electric line-up
- EVs planned across the entire product portfolio
- Petrol and diesel models to continue alongside EV expansion
CLA EV to spearhead upcoming EV rollout
The CLA Electric has begun this new wave and will serve as the entry point to Mercedes-Benz’s next-generation electric line-up. Built on the new MMA (Mercedes Modular Architecture) platform with an 800V electrical architecture and the latest MB.OS software, it will form the base for future models in the range.
“The CLA is more of a technology play than a price play,” said Santosh Iyer, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India.
EVs planned across segments
Mercedes-Benz plans to introduce EVs across its key segments, including SUVs and sedans. Models such as the GLC EV and C-Class EV are part of this pipeline and are expected to play a central role in expanding volumes. The GLC EV is likely to be significant given the SUV’s strong demand in India, while the C-Class EV will target the luxury sedan segment, where buyer demographics are shifting.
“We will have an EV across every product category… right from the A-Class to an S-Class,” Iyer said, outlining the scale of the planned rollout.
The company also plans to introduce two additional EVs in 2026, although specific models have not been disclosed.
ICE models to continue as EV rollout expands
Mercedes-Benz said it will continue to offer petrol and diesel models alongside EVs, reflecting current market conditions. “We will continue the combustion engines clearly, diesels as well as petrols,” Iyer said.
“Whether the customer will shift will depend on their choice and the total cost of ownership… we are not saying he has to,” Iyer said. “If there is the right technology and the right product, customers are ready to accept,” he added.
In the luxury segment, EVs are still largely used as additional vehicles rather than primary ones, with adoption influenced by pricing, incentives and resale value. Diesel models, particularly in SUVs, continue to account for a significant share of sales.
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