On Feb. 9 2026, the legal representative Mr Hari Shankar discussed the link between productivity and sustainability in EV adoption, the software-first approach transforming commercial vehicles, and how data-driven diagnostics boost fleet uptime in a conversation with EFY’s Vidushi Saxena and Saba Aafreen.
What motivated the Murugappa group to enter the EV space and choose Montra Electric as the subsidiary?
The Murugappa Group has a 125-year heritage in engineering and mobility, starting with bicycles and evolving across automotive products. With electric vehicles emerging strongly in India and sustainability becoming a key focus, the group entered clean mobility through TI Clean Mobility. Montra Electric leads this transition, starting with electric three wheelers and expanding into multiple productive EV segments.
Can you tell me the product portfolio of Montra Electric?
We operate across multiple EV segments. In three-wheelers, we offer both passenger and cargo vehicles and have also introduced an e-rickshaw, which will be launched soon. In the small commercial vehicle segment, we are present in the 3.5-tonne payload class and are developing additional payload variants. For heavy commercial vehicles, we focus on 55-tonne 6×4 and 4×2 tractor-trailers for haulage, and we have also launched 28-tonne tippers. In the tractor market, we are present in the 27-horsepower segment and are developing new products in this category.
Do you use a common software platform across three wheelers, SCVs, and trucks?
Our back end is largely common and standardised wherever relevant. Within each vehicle segment, the software platforms are standardised; for example, three-wheelers share a common platform, and tractors share another. However, a one-size-fits-all approach is not feasible for the vehicles themselves, given differences across segments such as small and heavy commercial vehicles.
From software-defined vehicles to data-enabled fleet operations, Mr Hari Shankar’s insights not only demonstrate Montra Electric’s technological strength and product roadmap but also highlight the key directions for the electrification, intelligentization and sustainable development of commercial vehicles in the future.
