India, Aug. 1 -- Copenhagen, with its clean air and green credentials, was a fitting backdrop to drive Mercedes-Benz's newest electric car, the CLA Electric. Compact, stylish and packed with tech, it's aimed at buyers who want to go electric without sacrificing luxury or brand cachet. And when it arrives in India by the end of the year, it could be (at around Rs.60 lakh) one of the most desirable EVs.

What makes the CLA Electric special is not just its badge or sleek design, it's how cleverly it's been engineered. The platform, designed primarily for electric cars, is also flexible enough for hybrids or petrol engines. That's a nod to real-world buyer behaviour: Even in developed countries, not everyone's ready to go fully electric just ...