Montra Electric, the e-M&HCV business arm of the Murugappa Group, has become India’s first manufacturer of heavy-duty electric trucks 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, India’s largest cement and ready-mix concrete producer.
The handover was flagged off by Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility Private Limited), in the presence of senior leadership from both companies. The certification enables customer incentives of up to ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle under the ₹10,900-crore PM E-DRIVE scheme, significantly strengthening the business case for electric heavy-duty trucks across logistics, mining, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries H. D. Kumaraswamy said the development reflects India’s growing innovation capacity in electric mobility and supports national decarbonisation and Net Zero goals. Designed for Indian operating conditions, the Rhino 5538 EV offers high torque, long-range capability and battery-swapping options, making it suitable for high-utilisation freight corridors.
