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Montra Electric, the e-M&HCV business vertical of the Murugappa Group, has marked a major milestone in India’s clean mobility journey by becoming the country’s first heavy-duty electric truck manufacturer to receive certification under the Government of India’s PM E-DRIVE Scheme. Celebrating this achievement, the company also delivered India’s first PM E-DRIVE–certified electric heavy truck, the Rhino 5538 EV 6x4 Tractor Trailer, to UltraTech Cement Limited, the nation’s largest cement and ready-mix concrete company.
The milestone was commemorated in the presence of Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility), Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric, and Shri Sathia Raj, Chief Procurement Officer, UltraTech Cement Limited, highlighting the significance of this development for India’s evolving clean mobility ecosystem.
The certification is expected to accelerate the adoption of electric heavy-duty trucks across key sectors such as logistics, mining, infrastructure, and manufacturing. By strengthening the business case for electrification, it enables large fleet operators and industrial customers to transition from conventional fuels without compromising on performance, uptime, or cost efficiency, marking a decisive step toward cleaner and more future-ready freight transportation.
The first PM E-DRIVE–certified Rhino 5538 EV was officially flagged off and handed over to UltraTech Cement by Arun Murugappan. Under the 10,900 crore PM E-DRIVE scheme, ₹500 crore has been earmarked specifically for e-trucks, offering a direct customer incentive of up to ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle for the Rhino 5538 EV. This incentive improves long-term fleet economics by lowering operating costs, reducing exposure to fuel price volatility, and supporting compliance with evolving emission and sustainability norms.
Commenting on the occasion, H.D. Kumaraswamy, Hon’ble Union Minister for Heavy Industries, said the PM E-DRIVE scheme reflects the growing strength of Indian innovation in the heavy-duty EV segment and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of decarbonising logistics and positioning India as a global EV manufacturing hub. He noted that electric trucks are critical to achieving India’s Net Zero goals and strengthening the spirit of Atmanirbhar Viksit Bharat.
Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility Private Limited), stated that decarbonising freight is one of the most critical challenges in India’s energy transition. He added that progressive policy frameworks like PM E-DRIVE are transformative in accelerating electrification in heavy commercial vehicles, where emissions intensity is particularly high, and reaffirmed Montra Electric’s commitment to delivering reliable, scalable, and technologically advanced electric M&HCV solutions.
Designed specifically for Indian operating conditions, the Rhino 5538 EV Tractor Trailer range is available in 6x4 and 4x2 variants. The 4x2 variant offers both fixed battery and battery-swapping options, including six-minute battery swaps, a 282 kWh LFP battery, 380 HP power, 2000 Nm torque, and a range of nearly 198 km under standard test conditions. These capabilities make it well-suited for high-utilisation, fixed-route, and hub-to-hub operations across ports, mining sites, cement logistics, steel plants, and long-haul freight corridors.
With heavy-duty trucks contributing disproportionately to freight emissions, the PM E-DRIVE certified Rhino 5538 EV represents a critical lever in India’s journey toward net-zero emissions and cleaner industrial growth. Montra Electric plans to collaborate closely with customers, policymakers, and ecosystem partners to accelerate the deployment of electric heavy-duty trucks across India’s core economic sectors.
