New electric pickup truck spied testing

A long, flat load bay with no wheel well intrusion may be the main advantage of Montra’s new electric pickup truck

The electric SCV (small commercial vehicle) segment currently has fewer products. Notable among them are Tata Motors’ Ace EV and Mahindra’s just-launched ZEO EV with BaaS (Battery as a Service) plan. There appears to be a new entrant into the space, as recent spy shots of the electric SCV hinted at.

The said spy photos appear to be from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. From the looks of it, this particular test mule appears to come from Montra Electric, a subsidiary of TII (Tube Investments India), the Murugappa Group. This particular test mule from Montra Electric also looks close to production. Let’s take a look.

New electric pickup truck spotted

India is still quite young as a car market. Electric vehicle penetration is still in its infancy, with most efforts reflected in electric 2W photovoltaics and commercial vehicles. While 3W electric rickshaws and cargo trucks have become popular, there are fewer 4W electric photovoltaic vehicles sold in India. OEMs are taking notice.

Montra Electric has begun testing their first electric SCV, and it has a lot of qualities to like. First, the boxy design gives it a strong road presence. At the same time, it can better optimize cabin space. Speaking of the cabin, we don’t get a glimpse of it through these spy shots.

Just like the exterior, the Montra’s interior also comes in camouflage. Notable elements on the exterior include dual windscreen wipers, manually adjustable IRVMs, low-mounted headlights, steel wheels and a pronounced cavity near the bumper that serves as a step for occupant entry and exit.

what happens?

Behind this cabin we have a fairly long loading area. With commercial applications in mind, this is a flat load area without any wheel well intrusion. A large cargo bay may be the main advantage of Montra’s unnamed electric pickup truck. We can also see a sliding window at the rear of this cabin.

Montra Electric is one of the electric vehicle providers in India eyeing the coveted eSCV. The company already has a mature electric 3W product portfolio in the form of Super Auto. This electric auto rickshaw has an attractive design and a spacious cab. It has a “super range” of up to 203 kilometers (claimed).

Montra’s upcoming electric SCV is likely to share much of the Super Auto’s powertrain and features. Features such as a fully digital instrument panel and Hyper Drive mode may also appear on the new electric pickup truck. Launch could be in 2025.