Mercedes-Benz Is Looking Back to Look Ahead | Exclusive Interview | autoX Awards 2025

Luxury buyers are changing — and Mercedes-Benz is changing with them. In this candid conversation with Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, Dhruv Behl digs into how the brand is responding to shifting customer expectations, evolving powertrain preferences, and an increasingly complex market landscape. Why is the E-Class E450 being chosen as a driver’s car? Why does diesel still account for nearly 40% of sales despite the EV push? And why does Mercedes-Benz believe that returning to iconic design and driving feel is critical to staying relevant? Santosh Iyer also explains the thinking behind the Mercedes-Benz–Hurun Wealth Report, what it reveals about where growth in India is really coming from, and how the brand is preparing for its next product offensive in 2026 amid supply and policy uncertainty. _________________________________________________________________ Visit https://www.autox.com/awards/ for all the details! _________________________________________________________________ Presenter: Dhruv Behl Cinematographer: autoX Editor: Mayur Tonk _________________________________________________________________ FOLLOW US: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autoxmag/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/autox/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/autox/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/autox/ Website: https://www.autox.com/ _________________________________________________________________ #MercedesBenzIndia #SantoshIyer #MercedesBenz #LuxuryCarsIndia #DieselCars #AutoIndustryIndia #CarMarketIndia #autoX 00:00 Intro 00:51 The E-Class as a Driver’s Car 01:47 E450 Demand & Changing Buyer Mindset 02:25 Diesel’s Role in Mercedes-Benz India 04:10 GST and Its Affects on Luxury Car Sales 06:09 EV Adoption, Policy & Total Cost of Ownership 08:30 Planning Powertrains in a Volatile Market 10:04 Returning to German Design Heritage 15:57 The Mercedes-Benz–Hurun Wealth Report Explained 17:37 What Should Youngsters Dreaming of Joining the Automotive Industry Learn? 18:30 Will the Automotive Industry Change? 20:09 Is AI the Next Big Thing? 21:10 What’s Next for Mercedes-Benz in 2026 22:28 Up Next