Montra Electric, the e-M&HCV arm of TI Clean Mobility under the Murugappa Group, has become India’s first heavy-duty electric truck manufacturer to receive certification under the Government of India’s PM E-DRIVE Scheme. Marking the milestone, the company delivered the country’s first PM E-DRIVE–certified electric heavy truck, the Rhino 5538 EV 6×4 tractor trailer to UltraTech Cement Limited, reinforcing the push toward cleaner freight mobility.
The handover was flagged off by Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric, in the presence of senior leadership from both organisations. The certification unlocks customer incentives of up to ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle under the ₹10,900-crore PM E-DRIVE programme, with ₹500 crore earmarked for e-trucks—significantly strengthening the business case for electrifying heavy-duty fleets across logistics, mining, infrastructure and manufacturing.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries H. D. Kumaraswamy said the development reflects India’s growing innovation capacity in electric heavy vehicles and aligns with national decarbonisation and Atmanirbhar Bharat goals. Designed for Indian conditions, the Rhino 5538 EV range (6×4 and 4×2) offers options like rapid battery swapping and high torque, positioning it as a key lever in cutting freight emissions nationwide.