TI Clean Mobility, a subsidiary of Tube Investments of India, a Murugappa Group company, launched Montra Electric 3W Auto in Chennai, India, on 6 September 2022, marking the brand’s entry into the electric domain.

The launch was a grand one, with the electric three-wheelers indeed being ridden on stage by Arun Murugappan, Executive Chairman, Tube Investments of India and Sushant Jena, Business Head – Montra Electric, TI Clean Mobility.

Upon taking a look at the three-wheeler, one can notice that, unlike regular three-wheelers, Montra Electric has a lot more space – both in the driver and passenger sections. Also, the driver seat has been designed to be a lot more comfortable, giving complete back and head support. Plus, the entire three-wheeler is made of metal frame.

This three-wheeler was manufactured at TI Clean Mobility's facility in Ambattur, Chennai, and will be made available in phases across the nation, starting South.

Sharing his thoughts on this new launch, Murugappan said, “This is a significant step for us from TI, which has been a three-year journey. EV component localisation has seen a significant surge, and we are well poised to join India’s EV revolution.”

Murugappan further told the audience, “With Montra Electric, we strive towards carbon neutrality. This segment is one that will have a significant impact on India's effort to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2070. We already have 40 people on board with us for dealers. We’ve invested our best resources and time to develop this product and are excited to see customer reactions.”

Talking about the journey of the new electric three-wheeler, K K Paul, MD, TI Clean Mobility Pvt Ltd (TICMPL), put across, “When we looked at the different segments in EVs, we realised that the greatest benefits are coming from the productive end of this segment. We then knew that three-wheelers were a good place to be in. As we were just getting our act together from ground zero to dealing with all the permissions, we also looked at the different elements of the productive segment.”

Paul further turned his attention to the manufacturing. He stated, “The manufacturing piece of Montra Electric is almost 70-75 percent local. Apart from that, we have done a lot of reliability tests. We are looking at being in the top three, in terms of volume and range, within the first year of our launch.”

Throwing more light on the manufacturing side, Jena informed, “This product is built from scratch, including the nut and bolt. Plus, we chose to offer it with a fixed battery as the ecosystem is still evolving.”

Jena also majorly highlighted Montra as a brand. He asserted that the brand, Montra Electric, is a new identity. “We have used three things for our conceptualisations – quality of life, eco-friendly and mobility solutions. We have even conceptualised a new term called ‘autoprenuers’,” he averred and went on, “When we started this journey, we knew that it had to be best-in-class. So we have called the auto, super auto. It comes with super style, spaciousness, super performance, is super reliable, super smart and super easy- owning.”

The price of the Montra Electric 3W range will start from INR 0.302 million (ex-showroom post-subsidy, 7.66 kWh), and it will be made available in over 100 dealerships in India.

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Tata.ev, the electric vehicle brand from Tata Motors, has announced that it has launched the first 10 high-speed TATA.ev MegaChargers across key urban and highway corridors. Developed in partnership with ChargeZone and Statiq, the move is part of TATA.ev’s broader plan to scale up to 400,000 public charge points by 2027.

The MegaChargers are strategically located along high-traffic routes with an aim to ease long-distance travel and daily urban commuting for EV users by offering fast, reliable and accessible charging infrastructure. This launch is a flagship initiative under TATA.ev’s ‘Open Collaboration’ framework, which fosters partnerships with Charge Point Operators (CPOs) and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

Balaje Rajan, Chief Strategy Officer, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility and Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, said, “At a time when EV adoption is on its growth path, ubiquitous and dependable charging infrastructure is the need of the hour. These first 10 TATA.ev MegaCharger sites in key EV corridors of the country are the first tranche of a superfast charging network that we will have across major highways. The TATA.ev MegaCharger network will increasingly connect all major cities across India to remove charging anxiety. We are on a mission to provide fast, reliable, and effortless charging that enables seamless mobility across the country – and we are just getting started.”

The MegaCharger are set up at –

• Mumbai–Ahmedabad Highway (in partnership with ChargeZone):
• Shreenath Food Hub, Vadodara – 400 kW charger supports up to 6 vehicles, delivers 150 km range in 15 minutes
• Shanti Complex, Vapi
• Hotel Xpress Inn, Ghodbunder
• Delhi–Jaipur Highway (in collaboration with Statiq):
• SS Plaza, Gurugram
• Hotel Old Rao, Kaprivas
• Asli Pappu Dhaba, Hamzapur
• Hotel Highway King, Shahpura
• Other Urban & Intercity Sites:
• Rajgurunagar (Pune–Nashik Highway) – Akash Misal House (120 kW, with ChargeZone)
• Bengaluru – Monk Mansion, Electronic City (urban fast-charging with Statiq)
• Udaipur – Ramee Royal Resort (120 kW, tourist-friendly with ChargeZone)

As announced earlier, each MegaCharger location is equipped with amenities such as restrooms, dining, Wi-Fi and lounge areas, creating a premium and user-friendly experience for EV users.

Akshit Bansal, Founder & CEO, Statiq, said, “Our collaboration with TATA.ev is a milestone in building a trusted, nationwide EV charging network. By co-branding with them, we will make EV adoption more accessible and reliable for every Indian, empowering users to easily locate and use charging stations through the iRA.ev and  Statiq app.”

Kartikey Hariyani, CEO & MD, ChargeZone, said, “We are proud to partner with TATA.ev to unveil our first co-branded SuperCharging Station on NH48, which is strategically located along key National Highway corridors. Together, ChargeZone and TATA.ev are pushing the boundaries of EV charging in India by focusing on the needs of today’s EV drivers – fast, reliable and easily accessible solutions. We are building a seamless EV ecosystem that supports innovative features including auto charge, RFID tap and charge, which meets current demands and future mobility needs.”

With 500 TATA.ev MegaChargers planned nationwide, the company is aiming to make electric mobility a serious choice for passenger vehicle customers.

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Tata Motors, one of India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vertelo, an electric mobility solutions provider, to make electric commercial vehicles (e-CVs) more accessible for customers.

As per the understanding, Vertelo will provide customised leasing solutions on Tata Motors’ electric commercial vehicle portfolio, which will enable fleet owners transition smoothly to sustainable mobility.

Rajesh Kaul, Vice-President & Business Head – Trucks, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, said, “Tata Motors is committed to democratising electric mobility, ensuring that accessibility to sustainable transportation solutions is extended to all customers. This partnership with Vertelo marks a significant milestone in that journey, enabling broader access to our advanced electric commercial vehicles. Through such collaborations, we are not just accelerating the adoption of sustainable transport solutions but also contributing to the development of a robust EV ecosystem in India.”

Sandeep Gambhir, CEO, Vertelo, added, “We are delighted to join hands with Tata Motors in accelerating EV adoption across a wide range of electric commercial vehicles including buses, trucks and mini-trucks. This partnership will facilitate bespoke leasing solutions and facilitate creation of a sustainable ecosystem that makes electric mobility the natural choice for commercial fleet operators. This collaboration will enable Tata Motors and Vertelo to accelerate adoption of electric commercial vehicles and create eco-friendly mobility solutions at scale.”

At present, Tata Motors’ e-CV portfolio includes the Tata Ace EV for last-mile mobility and Tata Ultra & Tata Starbus range in mass-mobility solutions.

The OEM has also showcased the Tata Prima E.55S, Tata Ultra E.12, Tata Magna EV bus, Tata Ultra EV 9 bus, Tata Intercity EV 2.0 bus, Tata Ace Pro EV and Tata Intra EV, catering to wide applications and customer requirements across product lines.

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Pune-headquartered electric vehicle manufacturer EKA Mobility has received the Letter of Award (LOA) for deploying 750 e-buses across 11 cities in Andhra Pradesh. The company has joined forces with GreenCell Mobility, a leading electric bus mass mobility solution provider, to execute this order.

As per the understanding, the partners will deploy 129 units of 9-metre and 621 units of 12-metre electric buses across eleven cities – Amravati, Anantapur, Kadapa, Kakinada, Kurnool, Rajahmundry, Nellore, Guntur, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam and Tirupati.

This award comes after CESL’s issuance of the Letter of Confirmation of Quantity (LOCQ) and Rajasthan’s LOA for 675 electric buses announced last week, marking a major milestone in India’s e-mobility journey.

Dr Sudhir Mehta, Founder & Chairman, EKA Mobility & Pinnacle Industries, said, “We are proud to partner with the government of Andhra Pradesh and collaborate with GreenCell Mobility to deliver green, smart, and efficient transportation solutions for the people of the state. This partnership marks a significant step toward building smarter, more sustainable cities across India.”

Devndra Chawla, MD & CEO, GreenCell Mobility, added, "We are honoured to join hands with the government of Andhra Pradesh to support the state’s transition to sustainable public transport. This project is a major milestone in our mission to transform mass mobility through zero-emission electric buses. Together, we are enabling cleaner cities, generating green jobs, and building a more sustainable future for millions."

Also read: GreenCell mobility to deploy over 1,200 e-buses from CESL under Pm E-Bus Sewa Scheme

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Kinetic Engineering, a leading automotive supplier, has granted brand license to its subsidiary, Kinetic Watts and Volts, for using the Kinetic brand to enter the electric vehicle space.

Founded on 27 September 2022, Kinetic Watts and Volts is said finalising its EV product lineup, rollout strategy, partnerships and market entry plans.

Till date, Kinetic Engineering and other promoters have invested INR 428 million in the subsidiary with an additional INR 290 million to be infused soon, which takes the total investment to INR 718 million. This investment will give KEL an 80 percent stake in the subsidiary.

At present, Kinetic Engineering manufactures and supplies EV components, including gearboxes, axles and chassis. More recently, the Kinetic Group entered battery manufacturing through its ‘Range X’ brand, further expanding its offerings for the EV segment.

Under the agreement, Kinetic Watts and Volts will get non-exclusive rights to use the Kinetic brand and trademarks for its EV business for an initial three-year term.

Ajinkya Firodia, Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, Kinetic Engineering, said, “For over five decades, Kinetic has symbolised innovation and trust. As we embrace the electric era, we’re thrilled to see Kinetic Watts and Volts carry this legacy forward. This license is more than a business deal – it’s entrusting a storied heritage to a team dedicated to shaping mobility’s future. By blending our iconic brand with advanced electric technology, Kinetic Watts and Volts will deliver products that resonate with Indian consumers and set new EV benchmarks.”

At the end of the three-year term, Kinetic Engineering and Kinetic Watts and Volts will reassess the licensing terms to align with the group’s long-term goals, market trends and potential expansion into new categories or global markets.

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