Montra Electric, the e-M&HCV arm of TI Clean Mobility Private Limited under the Murugappa Group, has emerged as a first mover in India’s electric heavy truck segment after becoming the country’s first manufacturer to receive PM E-DRIVE certification for an N3-category electric truck. The milestone was marked with the delivery of India’s first PM E-DRIVE–certified electric heavy truck, the Rhino 5538 EV 6×4 tractor trailer, to UltraTech Cement Limited.
The handover was flagged off by Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric, in the presence of Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric, and Sathia Raj, Chief Procurement Officer, UltraTech Cement. The certification unlocks customer incentives of up to ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle under the ₹10,900-crore PM E-DRIVE scheme, with ₹500 crore earmarked exclusively for e-trucks significantly improving total cost of ownership for fleet operators.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries H. D. Kumaraswamy said the development reflects India’s growing capabilities in electric heavy vehicle manufacturing and aligns with national decarbonisation and Net Zero objectives. Designed for Indian operating conditions, the Rhino 5538 EV range available in 6×4 and 4×2 variants with battery swapping and fixed battery options positions Montra Electric as a key catalyst in the evolving electric heavy-truck market across India’s core economic sectors.
