Montra Electric, the e-M&HCV business vertical of TI Clean Mobility Private Limited and part of the Murugappa Group, has achieved a significant milestone in India’s clean mobility journey by becoming the first heavy-duty electric truck manufacturer in the country to receive certification under the Government of India’s PM E-DRIVE Scheme. Marking this achievement, the company has also delivered the nation’s first PM E-DRIVE–certified electric heavy truck, the Rhino 5538 EV 6×4 tractor trailer, to UltraTech Cement Limited, India’s largest cement and ready-mix concrete company.
The milestone was commemorated in the presence of Shri Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric, Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric, and Shri Sathia Raj, Chief Procurement Officer, UltraTech Cement Limited, underscoring the importance of this achievement for India’s evolving clean mobility ecosystem. The certification strengthens the commercial viability of electric heavy-duty trucks by enabling direct customer incentives under the PM E-DRIVE scheme.
This development is expected to accelerate the adoption of electric trucks across sectors such as logistics, mining, infrastructure, and manufacturing by significantly improving fleet economics. The certification allows large fleet operators to transition away from conventional fuels without compromising on performance, uptime, or operational efficiency, marking a decisive step towards cleaner and more efficient freight movement in India.
The first PM E-DRIVE–certified Rhino 5538 EV was flagged off and handed over to UltraTech Cement by Shri Arun Murugappan. The ₹10,900 crore PM E-DRIVE scheme has an allocation of ₹500 crore dedicated to electric trucks, translating into a customer incentive of up to ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle for the Rhino 5538 EV. This incentive lowers operating costs, reduces exposure to fuel price volatility, and supports compliance with evolving sustainability and emission norms.
Commenting on the occasion, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, Hon’ble Union Minister for Heavy Industries, said that the PM E-DRIVE scheme reflects the growing strength of Indian innovation in the heavy-duty electric vehicle segment. He noted that electric trucks are pivotal to achieving India’s Net Zero goals and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to decarbonising logistics while strengthening domestic EV manufacturing under the vision of Atmanirbhar Viksit Bharat.
Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric, said that decarbonising freight is one of the most critical challenges in India’s energy transition. He expressed gratitude to the Government of India for introducing progressive policy frameworks like the PM E-DRIVE scheme, which play a transformative role in accelerating electrification in heavy commercial vehicles. He added that Montra Electric is proud to contribute to this national mission by delivering reliable, scalable, and technologically advanced electric mobility solutions.
Designed specifically for Indian operating conditions, the Rhino 5538 EV tractor trailer range is available in 6×4 and 4×2 variants. The 4×2 version offers both battery swapping and fixed battery options, supports six-minute battery swaps, and is powered by a 282 kWh LFP battery delivering 380 HP and 2000 Nm of torque, with a range of nearly 198 km under standard test conditions. These features make it suitable for high-utilisation and fixed-route applications across ports, mining operations, cement logistics, steel plants, and long-haul freight corridors.
With heavy-duty trucks accounting for a disproportionate share of freight emissions, the PM E-DRIVE–certified Rhino 5538 EV represents a critical lever in India’s journey towards net-zero and sustainable industrial growth. Montra Electric plans to work closely with customers, policymakers, and ecosystem partners to accelerate the deployment of electric heavy-duty trucks across India’s core economic sectors.
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