Mercedes-Benz on Friday launched the Mercedes-AMG E 53 HYBRID 4MATIC+ as the luxury carmaker doubles down on India's growing appetite for high-performance cars despite broader economic uncertainty.
Speaking to ET Online on the sidelines of the launch, Managing Director and CEO Santosh Iyer discussed why Mercedes-Benz expects demand for performance cars to remain strong, how India is becoming better suited to electrified luxury vehicles and why hybrid technology deserves a second look.
Iyer said Mercedes-Benz's confidence is backed by its recent sales performance. The company posted double-digit growth in the first half of 2026, while sales of top-end vehicles priced above ₹1.4 crore rose 20%, taking their share to around 28% of Mercedes-Benz India's total sales. Despite weaker market sentiment and uncertainty linked to capital markets, he said the company has not seen any change in demand for its most expensive models as buyers increasingly view luxury cars as more than just a means of transport.
Mercedes-Benz's comments come as India's luxury car market is showing signs of diverging from the broader passenger vehicle industry. While mass-market carmakers are grappling with rising costs, premium brands continue to benefit from affluent buyers who remain willing to spend on high-end vehicles. Against that backdrop, the German carmaker is expanding its performance portfolio while betting that demand for top-end models will remain resilient.
