Montra Electric Set to Unveil New SCV in 2026, LCV Launch to Follow

With India’s small commercial vehicle (SCV) market expanding sharply, Montra Electric is preparing an ambitious entry into the segment with a new SCV slated for a 2026 launch. The company, which already operates in the electric three-wheeler space, sees the sub-3.5-tonne truck category as a strategic path to scale its electric portfolio and capture early leadership in a segment widely viewed as the next major frontier for electrification.

The SCV category, which covers 2–3.5-tonne N1 trucks, has emerged as a dominant force in India’s light-duty logistics ecosystem. In FY24, this segment alone accounted for 310,696 units, nearly one-third of total light-commercial volumes. Below the 2-tonne threshold, manufacturers delivered an additional 155,927 units, reinforcing the strong pull of compact utility vehicles in dense urban and semi-urban delivery cycles. The larger LCV band (3.5–7.5 tonnes) added 61,422 units, indicating a balanced but stratified demand pattern across payload classes.

In the last ten years, the mini-truck and pickup segment of the market below 3.5 tonnes has grown from approximately 360,000 units in FY14 to roughly 500,000 units today for a variety of reasons, including the promise of e-commerce, the evolution of last-mile distribution and a consistently increasing consumption in Tier-II and Tier-III towns. The predictable nature of utilising SCVs, short duration routes and moderate payloads create a situation where electric vehicles can provide faster cost payback than diesel fleets. This is why some experts in the industry continue to talk about SCVs being the "sweet spot" for electrification, where use case and operating economics align nicely with EV performance characteristics.

Montra Electric’s decision to enter this space follows this logic closely. The company aims to deliver an SCV built around efficiency, low running cost and high uptime, attributes central to electric commercial vehicle adoption. While specific specifications remain under development, the product is expected to offer a competitive payload and a battery pack sized for daily intra-city duty cycles. By prioritising TCO reduction, Montra Electric intends to target fleet operators who depend on consistent utilisation for profitability.

A fundamental aspect of Montra Electric's scheme encompasses sequencing: the light commercial vehicle (LCV) will come after the small commercial vehicle (SCV), which has a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of under 3.5 tonnes, while also planning to launch a product positioned in the 3.5-5 tonne space. This will allow for operators who need a slightly longer route but remain in regional supply chains. The increase in the organised retail distribution model, as well as the need for fast, efficient transport in the FMCG and E-commerce space, combined with Montra's introduction of the LCV represents the transition across the industry toward more diversified fleet electrification.

The company's strategic approach shows a solid level of market understanding. SCVs tend to operate with higher levels of duty and duration parameters and still have relatively low operational daily distances, allowing them to achieve the tipping point of cost on a high cycle, compared to diesel, even more rapidly when including an electrification factor. Pick-up and delivery LCVs (gross weights above 3.5 tonnes) are reliant on increased stored energy and endure a level of duty-cycle engineering, which is indeed why Montra has scheduled this second vehicle type after establishing experience with the first, or SCV platform. It is important to note they will learn from the SCV experience before supplying a heavier payload vehicle (the same principles related).

As India moves forward with cleaner transport options, OEMs continue to grapple with supplying a product that is sustainable, but also affordable. Emphasis from the government to improve urban air quality, decrease emissions and facilitate broader electrification across logistics and freight continues to drive purchasing decisions. In this shift, Montra Electric's launch plans frame a strategic question; given that the products will enter the market as the adoption curve reaches an inflection zone, where electrified small trucks could push from early adopters into the common transport product mix.

The SCV segment is already rapidly gaining volume and has an operational profile conducive to electric powertrains, it seems that Montra Electric's timing is well placed to optimize for the existing market's readiness and awareness. The company will be launching an SCV in 2026 and eventually LCVs in a structured rollout, developing the ability to serve India's fastest growing logistics categories - without the loss of the need for efficient, reliable and sustainable transport solutions.

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