ALIGNING WITH ETHANOL PUSH: Mercedes-Benz says all petrol vehicles E25-ready

Mercedes-Benz India has announced that all petrol-powered vehicles sold in the country since January 2026 are now compatible with E25 fuel, placing the luxury carmaker ahead of India’s evolving ethanol-blending roadmap.

The development comes as India moves beyond nationwide adoption of E20 petrol. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has already notified specifications for higher ethanol blends such as E22, E25, E27 and E30, signalling a gradual transition toward cleaner fuel alternatives.

The company clarified that the move is part of its long-term product strategy and not driven by regulatory mandates. Speaking during the launch of the Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4MATIC+, Mercedes-Benz stated that future-readiness is central to its engineering approach, ensuring customers will not need to upgrade their vehicles as fuel standards evolve.

Amid rising ethanol blending, Mercedes-Benz highlighted fuel quality consistency as a key concern for premium vehicles. The company noted that challenges stem more from fuel adulteration and uneven quality standards rather than ethanol content itself, emphasizing the need for uniform fuel quality across the country.

By making its petrol portfolio E25-compatible, the automaker aims to offer long-term flexibility to customers while aligning with anticipated policy shifts.

Mercedes-Benz also reiterated its multi-powertrain strategy, continuing to invest in internal combustion engines, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles. The launch of the Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid 4MATIC+, the brand’s first electrified AMG E-Class in India, reflects its dual focus on electrification and readiness for higher ethanol-blended fuels.