Montra Electric hands over PM E-DRIVE–certified Rhino 5538 EV to UltraTech

Montra Electric, the e-M&HCV business vertical of TI Clean Mobility (Murugappa Group), has received certification under the Government of India’s PM E-DRIVE scheme for its heavy-duty electric trucks. The company delivered its first PM E-DRIVE–certified electric heavy truck, the Rhino 5538 EV 6×4 tractor trailer, to UltraTech Cement Limited on 28 January 2026 in Manesar.

The handover was flagged off by Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility). Jalaj Gupta MD-Montra Electric (TI Clean mobility) and Sathia Raj, Chief Procurement Officer, UltraTech Cement Limited were present at the event.

According to the company, the certification is expected to support adoption of electric heavy-duty trucks in sectors such as logistics, mining, infrastructure, and manufacturing. The PM E-DRIVE scheme has a total outlay of ₹10,900 crore, with ₹500 crore allocated for e-trucks. Montra Electric stated that this could enable customer incentives of up to ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle for the Rhino 5538 EV.

The Rhino 5538 EV tractor trailer range is available in 6×4 and 4×2 variants. The 4×2 version offers fixed battery and battery swapping options, including a six-minute swap feature. The company stated that the vehicle uses a 282 kWh LFP battery, produces 380 HP and 2000 Nm torque, and offers a range of nearly 198 km under standard test conditions. Montra Electric said the model is intended for applications such as port operations, mining, cement logistics, steel plants, and long-haul freight routes.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy said “The PM E-DRIVE scheme is a testament to the growing prowess 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 pivotal to our Net Zero goals, and by fostering a self-reliant ecosystem through such certifications, we are driving the spirit of Atmanirbhar Viksit Bharat. We are very happy to see our Prime Minister’s vision coming to life with the 1st PM E-Drive certified heavy duty electric truck from ‘Montra Electric’ getting delivered today.”

Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility Private Limited), said, “Decarbonising freight is one of the most critical challenges in India’s energy transition. We are grateful to the Government of India and our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for introducing forward-looking and progressive policy frameworks such as the PM E-DRIVE Scheme, which represent a welcome and transformative step in accelerating this shift, particularly in heavy commercial vehicles where emissions intensity is high. At Montra Electric, we are proud to contribute to this national mission by delivering technologically advanced, reliable, and scalable electric M&HCV solutions that can drive meaningful and lasting change in India’s mobility ecosystem.”

Montra Electric said it plans to work with customers, policymakers and ecosystem partners to support deployment of electric heavy-duty trucks in India.

Also read: Montra Electric launches E-27 electric tractor at ₹10.75 lakh