HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Jan 29: Montra Electric, the electric medium and heavy commercial vehicle arm of the Murugappa Group, has marked a major milestone in India’s clean mobility transition by becoming the country’s first manufacturer to secure PM E-DRIVE certification for a heavy-duty electric truck.
The company also delivered India’s first PM E-DRIVE–certified electric heavy truck — the Rhino 5538 EV 6×4 tractor trailer — to UltraTech Cement Limited, the country’s largest cement and ready-mix concrete producer.
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The handover underscores growing industry confidence in electric mobility solutions for high-utilisation commercial applications.
The milestone was commemorated in the presence of Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility Private Limited), Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric, and Sathia Raj, Chief Procurement Officer of UltraTech Cement Limited. Murugappan personally flagged off and handed over the certified vehicle to UltraTech.
Officials said the N3 category certification under the PM E-DRIVE scheme significantly strengthens the commercial viability of electric heavy-duty trucks by unlocking customer incentives of up to ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle.
Under the ₹10,900-crore PM E-DRIVE scheme, ₹500 crore has been earmarked specifically for e-trucks, improving fleet economics by lowering operating costs, reducing exposure to fuel price volatility and supporting compliance with tightening emission norms.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries HD Kumaraswamy said the certification reflects India’s growing capabilities in the heavy-duty electric vehicle segment.
“The PM E-DRIVE scheme is a testament to the growing prowess of Indian innovation in the heavy-duty electric vehicle segment. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are committed to decarbonising our logistics and making India a global hub for EV manufacturing,” he said, adding that electric trucks are critical to achieving India’s net-zero goals.
Arun Murugappan said decarbonising freight remains one of the most pressing challenges in India’s energy transition.
“Progressive policy frameworks such as the PM E-DRIVE scheme represent a transformative step in accelerating this shift, particularly in heavy commercial vehicles where emissions intensity is high,” he said, adding that Montra Electric is committed to delivering scalable and reliable electric M&HCV solutions aligned with national priorities.
Designed 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, features a 282 kWh LFP battery producing 380 hp and 2,000 Nm of torque, and delivers a tested range of nearly 198 km.
The six-minute battery swap capability makes it suitable for high-utilisation, hub-to-hub and fixed-route operations across ports, mining, cement logistics, steel plants and long-haul freight corridors.
With heavy-duty trucks accounting for a disproportionate share of freight-related emissions, the PM E-DRIVE–certified Rhino 5538 EV is seen as a critical lever in India’s push towards cleaner industrial growth.
Montra Electric said it will continue to work with customers, policymakers and ecosystem partners to accelerate the adoption of electric heavy-duty trucks across key economic sectors.
