Stuttgart - Mercedes-Benz is planning to offer every fifth car with hybrid-drive by the year 2015 starting with a new hybrid every year from 2009, the car maker announced recently.

The head of the car maker's marketing division, Klaus Maier, said that the combustion engine would remain a key element of the model line-up for the next 20 to 30 years.

While the introduction of electric-drive for small cars would proceed faster, bigger cars would be fitted with the combination of combustion engine and alternative drive technology. Mercedes is planning to offer a zero-emission Smart with electric-drive next year with a Mercedes B-Class with fuel-cell technology to go on sale in 2010. A hybrid for a vehicle with a diesel engine is also in the planning. (dpa)