IKEA deploys heavy-duty electric truck on public road network in Maharashtra

IKEA Supply, part of the Inter IKEA Group, and BLR Logistiks deployed the first electric heavy-duty truck to operate on public roads in India. The truck, which transports IKEA products between the port of Mumbai, the distribution centre in Pune, and the IKEA store in Mumbai, completed its 100th journey after being deployed in October 2024. The vehicle is supplied by Montra Electric Trucks.

IKEA, BLR Logistiks, and other partners have collaborated on this. The company said that the deployment has resulted in reducing turnaround time from 2 to 1 day, a cost reduction per year by 16%, a reduction in empty runs by around 160,000 km per year, and a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, totalling 206 tons, for a particular route each year.

Previously, the 120 km three-stop route was shared by two conventional trucks: one driving between the port and the DC and the second between the DC and the IKEA store in Mumbai. The new electric heavy-duty truck now operates this entire route.

To facilitate this, IKEA collaborated with Indian customs. It established new agreements with the ocean service provider to transport containers to the port and the land carrier to manage the route. The land carrier has also invested in the charging infrastructure to support the deployment.

Claes Lindgren, Acting Category Transport Manager, IKEA Supply Chain Operations, commented: “Although the purchase price of electric vehicles is higher than diesel trucks, we have achieved higher efficiency and cost reductions in the long term. This is an important step for IKEA and a strong signal to the transport sector in India. Through a joint effort with our partner, we have optimised the route, ensuring the truck is used more on the road and less during idling in loading and unloading processes.”

Abhishek Goyal, Director at BLR Logistics, said: “We are happy with what we have achieved for this specific route and look forward to applying this way of working in the future. This deployment in India represents an example of how we create efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

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