New Mercedes S-Class Hybrid India Launch – File photo.
Mercedes-Benz India’s latest advisory on E20 compatibility has sparked widespread debate online, with some questioning the claim using the company’s own owner manuals
India’s No 1 luxury car brand, Mercedes-Benz has found itself at the centre of an online debate after issuing a customer advisory stating that all Mercedes-Benz BS VI petrol vehicles are materially compatible with E20 fuel. The post, shared on the company’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, has quickly gone viral, attracting over 1.6 million views, nearly 2,000 reposts and more than 800 replies at the time of writing. However, much of the discussion has not been about E20 fuel itself, but whether Mercedes-Benz India’s statement matches the information provided to customers in its own owner manuals.
Mercedes-Benz Says All BS6 Petrol Cars Are E20 Compatible
Mercedes-Benz India’s advisory reads: “All Mercedes-Benz petrol BS VI vehicles are materially compatible with E20 fuel and certified accordingly by relevant authorities.” The company added that customer safety, vehicle reliability and performance remain a priority and invited customers to reach out for any technical assistance. The statement, however, does not specify model years, production dates or VIN ranges.
Mercedes-Benz India Issues E20 Compatibility Advisory
Statement Raises Questions
Soon after the advisory was posted, X users began questioning the claim in the replies. Several users pointed out that the fuel filler flap on their cars mentions only E5 and E10 compatibility, while the corresponding owner manuals available on Mercedes-Benz India’s own website also recommend fuels containing up to 10% ethanol.
Many have posted photographs of their fuel filler labels alongside screenshots from Mercedes-Benz owner manuals, asking why the latest advisory appears to contradict the information supplied with their vehicles. Some have also questioned whether earlier BS6 vehicles are included in the company’s latest statement or whether the advisory applies only to newer production models.
Why fuel cap and your website mentions only upto E10 fuel?
Are you under pressure from GOI and lying? pic.twitter.com/oKJxkstscp
— Dr. SP (@sphavisha) July 13, 2026
Community Notes Adds Context
The discussion gained further traction after X’s Community Notes system added context beneath the Mercedes-Benz India post. The note states that multiple Mercedes-Benz BS6 owner manuals recommend a maximum ethanol content of E10, while warning against higher ethanol blends.
Interestingly, the supporting references cited in the Community Note are official Mercedes-Benz India owner manual pages, rather than third-party sources. According to the Community Note, several manuals explicitly mention that the vehicle is suitable for use with E10 fuel, creating an apparent contradiction with the company’s latest advisory claiming compatibility for all BS6 petrol vehicles.
Need For Further Clarification
With E20 petrol becoming standard petrol available across India, the issue has generated considerable interest among Mercedes-Benz owners looking for clarity on what fuel their vehicles are actually certified to use. To better understand the advisory, RushLane reached out to Mercedes-Benz India seeking clarification on whether the statement applies to all BS6 petrol vehicles sold since BS6 implementation, whether earlier owner manuals have effectively been superseded, and why many manuals and fuel filler labels continue to mention only E10 compatibility. At the time of publishing this report, Mercedes-Benz India had not responded to our queries.