Mercedes-Benz India Clarifies E20 Fuel Compatibility of Its Vehicles, Addresses Viral Claims About Mileage Reduction

Mercedes-Benz India has issued an official statement confirming that its vehicles are fully compatible with E20 fuel, which contains a 20% ethanol blend, in accordance with current Indian regulatory requirements. The company has advised all vehicle owners to adhere to the fuel specifications listed on their vehicle's fuel filler cap and encourages anyone seeking further clarification to contact their nearest authorised dealership or customer care centre.

This official response follows the circulation of a viral video on social media featuring popular Indian YouTuber Sourav Joshi, who alleged that using ethanol-blended E20 petrol significantly reduced the mileage of his Mercedes vehicles. In his widely shared video, Joshi claimed that his fuel efficiency dropped from a range of 16-17 km per litre to as low as 5 km per litre. YouTuber Sourav Joshi Claims Ethanol Blended Petrol 'E20' Dropped His Mercedes Mileage From 16–17 km to 5 km Per Litre.

Mercedes-Benz India Confirms E20 Compliance of Its Vehicles, Releases Official Statement

Customer Advisory pic.twitter.com/RxuTYl6Phz

— Mercedes-Benz India (@MercedesBenzInd) July 12, 2026

Scared to Use Ethanol-Blended Petrol, Reduced My Mercedes Mileage: YouTuber Sourav Joshi

I am scared to fill ethanol-blended petrol in my car. My Mercedes used to give 16–17 km/l mileage, but now it’s dropped to 5. My car will be ruined soon.

—India’s biggest vlogger, Saurav Joshi pic.twitter.com/IQgSgogFHm

— Mohit Chauhan (@mohitlaws) July 12, 2026

Following the circulation of the YouTuber's claims, Mercedes-Benz India stepped in to address the growing public concern and potential confusion regarding the performance of its cars with the government-mandated fuel blend. The manufacturer's statement serves as a direct rebuttal to the speculation surrounding engine damage and fuel incompatibility that emerged after the video went viral on various social media platforms.

Mercedes-Benz India stated on X, "Mercedes-Benz India would like to inform all customers that our vehicles are compatible with E20 fuel (20% ethanol blended petrol) as per the current regulatory requirements in India. We recommend using E20 compliant fuel as per the fuel filler cap specification of your vehicle. For any further clarification, please contact your nearest Mercedes-Benz authorised dealership or customer care." E20 Petrol May Reduce Mileage by 3-5%, But Offers Better Pickup, Says Petroleum Ministry.

The Indian government has been pushing for higher ethanol blending to reduce oil imports and lower vehicle emissions, a move that has recently sparked intense debate among car owners. While the government and oil companies maintain that modern vehicles are designed to handle the E20 blend, the incident has highlighted the importance of consumer awareness regarding vehicle-specific fuel compatibility and the potential impact on real-world driving efficiency.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 13, 2026 07:19 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).