Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius Says Internal Combustion Engines Will Last at Least 10 to 15 More Years

On November 10, Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz, unveiled the company's powertrain technology roadmap at a media roundtable in Pune, India. He stated that internal combustion engines will remain for at least another 10 years, possibly even 15, with combustion engines continuing to thrive beyond 2030. He described the shift to electric mobility as an industrial transformation spanning 20 to 25 years. To meet Euro 7 emission standards, Mercedes-Benz is continuing to invest in its combustion engine product line. The company currently has a range of Euro 7-ready engines, though they have not yet received formal certification under the new standards. These include the latest V8 engine, which is still powering certain high-end models. In addition, the company continues to produce V12 engines for select specific models. Mercedes-Benz is advancing a three-year product plan involving 40 models, covering both battery-electric vehicles and combustion-engine cars. The plan includes new models to be launched successively in 2026 and 2027, with gasoline, diesel and pure electric powertrains covering the entire product lineup simultaneously. More electric models are expected to be introduced by 2027. Källenius noted that light commercial vehicles and large passenger cars are areas where diesel engines excel, and diesel engines will remain in Mercedes-Benz's product lineup. For drivers covering 60,000 to 70,000 kilometers per year, as well as those with annual mileage approaching 37,000 miles (approximately 59,546 kilometers), the energy efficiency advantages of diesel or efficient hybrid models can offset their higher purchase cost compared with equivalent gasoline models. In the Indian market, diesel prices are relatively low. Mercedes-Benz plans to offer pure electric alternatives across all key model segments before the end of this decade. Källenius expects the share of battery-electric vehicles in Mercedes-Benz's India sales to increase further in 2027.