Murugappa Group’s EM & HCV business vertical Montra Electric has achieved 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 PM e-Drive scheme of the Government of India.
To celebrate this milestone, Montra Electric delivered India’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 manufacturer. This milestone reinforces the company’s commitment to accelerate the adoption and growth of electric mobility in the commercial vehicle segment.
The occasion was celebrated in the presence of Mr. Arun Murugappan, President – Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility); Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director – Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility); and Mr. Sathiya Raj, Chief Procurement Officer, UltraTech Cement Limited, highlighted the significance of this achievement for India’s clean mobility ecosystem.
The move is expected to accelerate the adoption of electric heavy-duty trucks in India’s logistics, mining, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors by significantly improving the business case for electrification. By enabling large fleet operators and industrial customers to move away from conventional fuels without compromising performance, uptime or economics, the certification is a decisive step towards cleaner, more efficient and future-ready freight transportation.
The first PM e-Drive-certified Rhino 5538 EV was flagged off and handed over to UltraTech by Mr. Arun Murugappan.
The Rs 10,900 crore PM e-Drive scheme has a budget of Rs 500 crore for e-trucks, leading to direct customer benefits of up to Rs 9.6 lakh per vehicle for the Rhino 5538 EV. This incentive improves long-term fleet economics by reducing operating costs, reducing fuel price volatility and supporting compliance with evolving sustainability and emission norms.
Commenting on the occasion, Hon’ble Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Shri HD Kumaraswamy said, “The PM e-Drive scheme is a testament to the growing power of Indian innovation in the heavy-duty electric vehicle segment. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we are committed to decarbonizing our logistics and making India a global hub for EV manufacturing. Electric trucks are critical to our net zero goals, and through such certifications we will be able to achieve a self-reliant By promoting the ecosystem, we are carrying forward the spirit of self-reliant developed India.
We are very happy to see that our Prime Minister’s vision is being realized with the delivery today of the first PM e-Drive certified heavy duty electric truck from ‘Montra Electric’.”
Commenting on this milestone, Arun Murugappan, President, Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility Pvt. Ltd.) said, “Decarbonizing freight transportation is one of the most significant challenges in India’s energy transition. We are grateful to the Government of India and our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for introducing visionary and progressive policy frameworks such as the PM e-Drive Scheme, which
This represents a welcome and transformative step in accelerating this transition, particularly in heavy commercial vehicles where emissions intensity is high.
At Montra Electric, we are proud to contribute to this national mission by providing technologically advanced, reliable and scalable electric M&HCV solutions that can drive meaningful and lasting change in India’s mobility ecosystem.
Specifically designed for Indian operating conditions, the Rhino 5538 EV tractor trailer range is available in 6×4 and 4×2 tractor trailer variants. The Rhino 5538 EV 4×2 tractor trailer offers battery swapping and fixed battery options, six-minute battery swap, a 282 kWh LFP battery producing 380 hp and 2000 Nm of torque and a range of approximately 198 km under standard testing conditions. These capabilities make the Rhino 5538 EV suitable for high-usage, fixed-route and hub-to-hub applications in ports, mining operations, cement logistics, steel plants and long-haul freight corridors – which contribute significantly to India’s freight emissions footprint.
With heavy-duty trucks accounting for a disproportionate share of freight emissions, the PM e-Drive-certified Rhino 5538 EV represents an important lever in India’s journey towards net-zero and clean industrial growth. Montra Electric plans to work closely with customers, policymakers and ecosystem partners to accelerate the deployment of electric heavy-duty trucks across key economic sectors in India.