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Updated On: 18-Nov-2025 06:07 AM
Montra Electric will launch a new sub-3.5T SCV in 2025 and plans an LCV next, aiming to expand its EV lineup amid rising demand for clean, efficient commercial mobility.
New sub-3.5T SCV launching in 2025.
LCV in the 3.5–7.5T range to follow.
SCV EV penetration may reach 20% by 2030.
Montra is expanding its network to 25 outlets.
Ponneri plant capacity is 50,000 units.
Montra Electric, the EV arm of the Murugappa Group, is preparing for a major expansion in India’s electric commercial vehicle market. After launching its first 3.5-tonne Eviator earlier this year, the company is now developing a new small commercial vehicle (SCV) in the sub-3.5-tonne category, planned for launch next year. This will be followed by a new light commercial vehicle (LCV) in the 3.5–7.5-tonne range, according to senior company officials.
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Montra Electric will introduce a new model in the 2–3.5-tonne SCV category, but at a lower tonnage than the Eviator. The company sees strong demand for electric SCVs, especially for last-mile delivery, urban logistics, and cleaner fleet operations.
CEO of Montra’s SCV division, Saju Nair, confirmed the upcoming expansion.
He said the current Eviator platform will have around 10 variants with different battery and application configurations. Alongside this, Montra is developing a lower-tonnage electric SCV and later plans to roll out a higher-tonnage product as well.
India’s SCV segment has become the largest category in the goods carrier market, driven by e-commerce, retail growth, and rising demand for last-mile connectivity.
Key figures from FY25:
Total goods carrier CVs (excluding 3-wheelers): 956,671 units
SCVs (2–3.5 tonne, N1 category): 310,696 units
Vehicles below 2 tonnes: 155,927 units
LCVs (3.5–7.5 tonne): 61,422 units
Over the past decade, the sub-3.5-tonne market has expanded from 360,000 units in FY14 to nearly 500,000 units today, showing strong and steady growth.
Industry experts see SCVs as the “sweet spot” for EV adoption. The reasons include:
Short, predictable operating routes
Moderate payload requirements
High utilisation in last-mile delivery
Lower running costs for fleet owners
Currently, EV penetration in the SCV space is around 1%, but Montra Electric expects it to rise to 5% next year and reach 20% by 2030 as more electric SCVs enter the market.
Montra Electric is also studying the 3.5–7.5-tonne LCV category. If the market potential supports electrification and viable volumes, the company aims to launch an electric LCV next year.
Montra currently sells its SCVs through 20 touchpoints across India and plans to expand this number to 25 by the end of the financial year.
Nair says the company’s focus in the current year is to introduce its vehicles in as many use cases as possible and onboard large customers. From next year, Montra will shift its attention to scaling up volumes.
Potential buyers often seek improvements in:
Driver comfort
Load space design
Energy efficiency
Montra sees these gaps as opportunities to deliver differentiated and superior electric SCVs and LCVs.
The company expects strong support from:
Government initiatives promoting clean transport
A growing EV ecosystem
Private companies adopting EVs to meet ESG goals
Montra Electric aims to build a complete electric commercial vehicle portfolio, including:
Heavy trucks
Mid and small CVs
Last-mile 3-wheelers
It has an ambitious target of reaching $1 billion in revenue by 2030, with more than half coming from its medium and heavy commercial vehicle (M&HCV) business.
Montra’s SCV and LCV manufacturing takes place at its Ponneri facility in Tamil Nadu, which has:
50,000 annual production capacity
5 lakh sq. ft. plant area
The M&HCV business operates under IPLTech Electric, which runs a facility in Manesar, Haryana. The division recently launched the Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 tractor-trailer, strengthening Montra’s position in the heavy EV truck market.
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Montra Electric is gearing up for strong growth in India’s fast-expanding electric commercial vehicle market. With a new sub-3.5-tonne SCV coming next year and an LCV planned soon after, the company aims to capture rising demand for clean, efficient last-mile mobility. Backed by a growing network, strong manufacturing capabilities, and supportive market trends, Montra is well-positioned to scale its EV portfolio and move closer to its 2030 revenue goals.