Montra Electric, the e-M&HCV arm of TI Clean Mobility Private Limited (Murugappa Group), has crossed a decisive inflection point in India’s electric freight economics by becoming the first heavy-duty EV truck maker to secure certification under the Government of India’s PM E-DRIVE Scheme. The company marked the milestone with the delivery of the first PM E-DRIVE–certified Rhino 5538 EV 6×4 tractor trailer to UltraTech Cement Limited, signalling early institutional demand for decarbonised logistics.
The handover was flagged off by Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric, alongside senior executives from both organisations. From an economic standpoint, the ₹10,900-crore PM E-DRIVE programme—of which ₹500 crore is earmarked for e-trucks—unlocks incentives of up to ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle for the Rhino 5538 EV, materially improving total cost of ownership through lower operating expenses, reduced fuel-price volatility and compliance with tightening emission norms.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries H. D. Kumaraswamy said electric trucks are pivotal to India’s Net Zero ambitions under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Engineered for Indian conditions, the Rhino 5538 EV range offers 6×4 and 4×2 variants, battery swapping (including six-minute swaps), a 282 kWh LFP battery delivering 380 HP and 2,000 Nm torque, and a tested range of nearly 198 km—targeting ports, mining, cement, steel and long-haul corridors that dominate freight emissions.
