Forget E20, This Carmaker Has Been E25-Ready Since January 2026

by Saumya Shubham Jha (Auto Today) Mercedes-Benz India has revealed that every petrol-powered car sold since January 2026 is E25-compatible, putting the luxury carmaker ahead of India's evolving ethanol roadmap and future fuel regulations.

As India continues to debate the future of ethanol-blended fuels beyond E20, Mercedes-Benz India has quietly stayed a step ahead. The luxury carmaker has revealed that every petrol-powered vehicle it has sold in the country since January 2026 has already been engineered to run on E25 fuel, well before any government mandate comes into force.

The announcement is significant because it comes at a time when the country's fuel roadmap is gradually moving beyond E20. While E20 petrol has now been rolled out nationwide, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has already notified specifications for higher ethanol blends, including E22, E25, E27 and E30, laying the groundwork for the next phase of India's ethanol programme.

Future-proofing the product line-up

Mercedes-Benz says the move is not in response to any regulation but part of its long-term product planning.

At launch of the new Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4MATIC+, Mercedes-Benz India said the company wanted its cars to remain ready for future fuel norms rather than react after they are introduced.

Earlier this month, Mercedes-Benz had pointed out that the bigger concern for premium vehicles is not ethanol blending itself, but inconsistent fuel quality and the risk of adulteration. The company stressed that maintaining uniform fuel standards would become increasingly important as India gradually adopts higher ethanol blends.

Mercedes-Benz reiterated that it has no plans to rely on a single propulsion technology. Instead, the company will continue offering a broad mix of internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, allowing customers to choose a powertrain based on their driving needs.

AMG E 53 Hybrid also debuts in India

The E25 announcement coincided with the introduction of the new Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4MATIC+, priced at Rs 1.45 crore for the Performance Edition and Rs 1.48 crore for the Racing Edition (both ex-showroom). READ MORE

Excerpt from ChiniMandi: The announcement follows recent industry discussions on fuel quality as ethanol blending increases. Earlier this month, Mercedes-Benz said the primary challenge for premium vehicles is not ethanol content but inconsistent fuel quality and fuel adulteration. The company stressed that maintaining uniform fuel standards would become increasingly important as higher ethanol blends are introduced.

By engineering its latest petrol vehicles for E25 compatibility, Mercedes-Benz said it is preparing its product portfolio for future policy changes while providing customers with long-term fuel flexibility. READ MORE

Excerpt from Forbes India: Every car that Mercedes-Benz has sold in India since January this year can run on 25 percent ethanol-blended petrol (E25), according to India MD and CEO Santosh Iyer, as the German carmaker looks to stay ahead of regulation.

Mercedes cars have been E20-compliant since 2020 even though the mandate only came in 2023.

“One of the reasons we did that was to ensure that if this comes in a couple of years, our customers should not feel short-changed. We were ahead of the curve and we will continue to do that.”...

Asked if the PHEVs will see some traction this year, Iyer said the swing factor is price parity with combustion engines. “Why should somebody not buy a plug-in hybrid over a combustion engine?” he asked, arguing that once PHEVs are priced in line with ICE models, the decision becomes a “no-brainer”.

He pushed back on the idea that India’s tax structure is an obstacle [plug-ins are taxed at the same GST rate as ICE cars], pointing out that Indian OEMs have long built affordable cars despite high taxes.

On Delhi’s new EV policy, which gives full exemption on road tax and registration fees only to EVs priced at Rs 30 lakh or less, Iyer said he was “surprised”. “It undercuts the stated goal of decarbonisation.”

Capping EV prices for policy benefits pushes total-cost-of-ownership economics back in favour of combustion cars, he said. “In that sense, a bit surprising,” he said, adding that Mercedes has asked authorities to reconsider the provision.

Iyer also ruled out range-extender technology for Mercedes’ India business, at least for now. The technology—in which a small combustion engine recharges the battery rather than driving the wheels--remains largely confined to the Chinese market, he said, and isn’t part of Mercedes’ global portfolio.

JSW MG Motor India unveiled a platform earlier this month that can accommodate range-extended EVs, along with pure EVs, hybrids and plug-in hybrids. READ MORE