India's Largest Electric Trailer Truck Fleet Enters Commercial Operation with Montra Electric and Wonder Cement

PNN
Nimbahera (Rajasthan) [India], September 22: Montra Electric (eM&HCV Division), India’s full-spectrum electric commercial vehicle brand from the Murugappa Group, and Wonder Cement are moving a 250-vehicle deployment of the Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 Tractor Trailer into regular commercial service on India’s longest electric freight corridor. It is one of the largest heavy-duty electric truck commitments made by an Indian industrial company, and it is running on live cement logistics rather than as a contained pilot.
Initially 30 trucks were flagged off from Nimbahera Wonder Cement Plant in July 2026 and are already hauling full payloads on daily duty cycles. The fleet operates on the Nimbahera-Dahej Port and Nimbahera-Tuna Port routes, spanning approximately 1,450 km across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The trucks run to the same operational schedule as a conventional diesel cement fleet, which is the only condition under which long-haul electrification can be judged fairly.
The corridor is supported by dedicated charging infrastructure comprising 13 charging stations, positioned so that the fleet can sustain daily long-distance duty cycles inside the turnaround times that industrial logistics operations are built around.
The Montra Electric Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 Tractor Trailer is a heavy-duty electric tractor-trailer available with a 55-tonne (55t) Gross Combination Weight (GCW) option, purpose-built for demanding industrial applications such as cement, coal and clinker haulage. It is powered by a 282 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery paired with a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) that delivers 280 kW (380 HP) and 2,000 Nm of torque, with 18% continuous gradeability and a 6-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) to handle sustained heavy loads. The vehicle offers a range of 198* km and charges from 20-100% SOC (State of Charge) in 60 minutes, and is supported by 95%+ assured uptime.
By committing a route of this length and intensity to electric trucks, Wonder Cement is betting its inbound and outbound logistics on the result. That is the shift the Indian freight market has been waiting for: heavy electrification judged on payload, turnaround and daily availability rather than on a demonstration run.
“Sustainability is at the core of Wonder Cement’s growth strategy, driving innovation across our entire value chain. The deployment of around 250 electric trucks on a 1,450-km industrial corridor is a significant step toward decarbonising logistics and reducing our environmental footprint beyond manufacturing. In partnership with Montra Electric, we are demonstrating that long-haul freight electrification is both operationally reliable and commercially viable. This initiative reinforces our commitment to responsible growth and supports India’s transition to a cleaner, low-carbon future while setting new sustainability benchmarks for the cement industry.”
Mr. Kiran Patil, Managing Director, Wonder Cement
“India’s freight emissions are concentrated on its long-haul industrial corridors, and that is where electrification has to prove itself. With Wonder Cement, we are putting electric heavy trucks into daily, fully loaded, long duty cycles on one of the country’s busiest freight routes. This deployment moves the question from ‘whether electric trucks can handle long-haul freight?’ to ‘how quickly fleets can scale them?’ It underpins our commitment to deploy around 250 electric heavy commercial vehicles across India’s key industrial corridors.”
Mr. Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility Pvt. Ltd.)
“We are grateful to Wonder Cement for its partnership and confidence in this deployment. Demonstrating commercial and operational viability on an intensive 1,450-km industrial corridor establishes that sustainable long-haul logistics is ready to scale today. Our vehicles have been engineered for precisely these conditions at high utilisation, heavy payloads and demanding turnaround times. We are proud to work with Wonder Cement in setting this precedent for the industry.”
Mr. Navneet Sethi, CEO (eM&HCV division), Montra Electric (IPLTech Electric Pvt. Ltd.)
The same operating profile that suits cement, coal and clinker movement applies to steel, mining, infrastructure and port haulage, where vehicles run fixed routes at high utilisation with predictable turnaround windows. Across its heavy-duty electric deployments in India, Montra Electric has 750+ vehicles on the road, 30Mn+ km covered and 6Mn CO₂ saved.
Under standard test conditions- one side loaded and one side empty.
About Montra Electric (TI Clean Mobility Private Limited, Murugappa Group)
Montra Electric (company name: TI Clean Mobility Private Limited) is a clean mobility brand from the Murugappa Group, one of India’s oldest and most respected business conglomerates, with a legacy spanning 125 years. Drawing on deep expertise in converting metal to mobility, earned over decades of manufacturing high-precision automotive and industrial components for India and global markets, and on a track record of building strong brands, Montra Electric has set out on a vision of clean mobility. The company operates under four business verticals: Heavy Commercial Vehicles, Mid and Small Commercial Vehicles, Last Mile Three Wheelers and Electric Tractors, including through its subsidiaries. Its fast-expanding portfolio includes India’s first 55-tonne electric trailertruck RHINO, the 3.5-tonne small commercial vehicle EVIATOR, the last mile passenger vehicle SUPER AUTO, the last mile delivery solution SUPER CARGO and India’s first electric tractor E-27.
To know more, visit www.montraelectric.com
About Murugappa Group
A 125-year-old conglomerate with a presence across India and the world, the INR 902 billion (90,178 crore) Murugappa Group has diverse businesses in agriculture, engineering, financial services and more. The Group has 10 listed companies: Carborundum Universal Limited, CG Power & Industrial Solutions Limited, Cholamandalam Financial Holdings Limited, Cholamandalam Investment & Finance Company Limited, Coromandel International Limited, E.I.D.-Parry (India) Limited, NACL Industries Limited, Shanthi Gears Limited, Tube Investments of India Limited, and Wendt (India) Limited. Other major companies include Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Limited and Parry Agro Industries Limited. Brands such as Ajax, Hercules, BSA, Montra, Montra Electric, Mach City, Chola, Chola MS, CG Power, Shanthi Gears, CUMI, Gromor, Paramfos and Parry’s are part of the Group’s stable. Guided by the five lights of integrity, passion, quality, respect and responsibility, and a culture of professionalism, the Group has a workforce of 94,041 employees.
For more information, see www.murugappa.com
About Wonder Cement
Wonder Cement is a leading cement manufacturer in India, committed to delivering high-quality building materials while adopting eco-friendly technology and sustainable manufacturing practices. Operating state-of-the-art facilities, Wonder Cement continuously invests in environmental stewardship and green supply chain initiatives.
Media contact
Anuradha Roy, Adfactors PR - Anuradha.roy@adfactorspr.com / 7506916497
Montra Electric - contactus@montraelectric.com
(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)