Montra Electric launches Rhino 5538 EV

Manesar, Haryana – Montra Electric., the clean mobility brand of the Murugappa Group, has unveiled the Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 TT, a 55-ton electric truck, at its manufacturing facility in Manesar. Alongside the launch, the company introduced advanced battery swapping technology for its Rhino truck series and inaugurated India’s first all-women monitored automated battery plant.

Powered by a 282 kWh LFP battery, the Rhino 5538 delivers 380 HP and 2,000 Nm torque, offering a driving range of 198 km per charge. The truck, priced at ₹1.15 crore (ex-factory) for the fixed-battery model, comes with a 10-year/9 lakh km AMC contract that guarantees 95% uptime.

The newly introduced battery swapping system reduces downtime significantly, enabling a complete battery change in under six minutes, compared to over an hour with fast charging. Each automated swap station, featuring a 7+1 configuration, can handle more than 160 swaps per day, efficiently serving large fleets.

With government support through initiatives like the PM E-DRIVE scheme, India’s electric commercial vehicle sector is witnessing rapid growth. Heavy-duty trucks represent one of the biggest opportunities in this shift, as logistics operators look for sustainable and cost-efficient solutions. Montra’s existing Rhino 6x4 TT has already clocked over 1.2 crore kilometres within two years, highlighting growing acceptance of EV freight transport.

The launch event was attended by M A M Arunachalam (Arun Murugappan), Chairman of Montra Electric, and Vellayan Subbiah, Vice-Chairman. The company also commissioned a new conveyor line with Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) at the plant.

Mr. Arun Murugappan, Chairman, said, “At Montra Electric, we are addressing the biggest hurdles in commercial EV adoption. With solutions like battery swapping for heavy-duty trucks and purpose-built platforms, we are making clean mobility seamless, reliable, and economically viable for fleet operators.”

“This milestone firmly positions India on the global sustainable mobility map. The launch of Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 TT in one of the largest industry segments demonstrates our focus on innovation, localization, and sustainability,” added Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric.

The Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 TT features a 6-speed AMT transmission, a reinforced chassis frame, and is compatible with multiple trailer types. With a Gross Combination Weight of 55 tons, it is designed for long-haul freight operations in Indian conditions. Customers can choose between battery swapping and fixed-battery variants. The drive-through swap station design allows trucks with trailers to pass seamlessly, similar to toll plazas.

Montra Electric operates across four verticals: Heavy Commercial Vehicles, Mid & Small Commercial Vehicles, Last Mile Three-Wheelers, and Electric Tractors. Its portfolio includes the Rhino truck series, Eviator SCV, Super Auto passenger vehicle, Super Cargo delivery solution, and E-27 electric tractor.

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