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Rare earth-free EV motor 3 years away, says Montra MD Jalaj Gupta
India's automobile industry is currently facing a rare earth magnet shortage after China -- which supplies over 80 per cent of India's magnet imports -- imposed stricter export controls in April 2025
Deepak Patel New Delhi
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The rare earth magnet shortage is a concern for everyone in the automobile industry and the issue should get resolved soon, said Jalaj Gupta, managing director of TI Clean Mobility, which goes by the brand name Montra Electric and is part of the ₹80,000 crore Murugappa group.
'Can you do an electric vehicle's motor without these rare earth magnets? The answer is yes. How long will it take (to develop such a motor)? It will take a minimum 2–3 years,' Gupta told Business Standard on the sidelines of the launch of the firm's three-wheeler, Super Cargo, in Delhi.
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Business Standard
5 hours ago
- Business Standard
Rare earth-free EV motor 3 years away, says Montra MD Jalaj Gupta
India's automobile industry is currently facing a rare earth magnet shortage after China -- which supplies over 80 per cent of India's magnet imports -- imposed stricter export controls in April 2025 Deepak Patel New Delhi Listen to This Article The rare earth magnet shortage is a concern for everyone in the automobile industry and the issue should get resolved soon, said Jalaj Gupta, managing director of TI Clean Mobility, which goes by the brand name Montra Electric and is part of the ₹80,000 crore Murugappa group. 'Can you do an electric vehicle's motor without these rare earth magnets? The answer is yes. How long will it take (to develop such a motor)? It will take a minimum 2–3 years,' Gupta told Business Standard on the sidelines of the launch of the firm's three-wheeler, Super Cargo, in Delhi.
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Business Standard
10 hours ago
- Business Standard
TI Clean Mobility aims for $1 billion turnover by FY30 with EV push
Murugappa Group firm TI Clean Mobility is targeting a turnover of ₹1 billion in the next 4-5 years for which it will fast-track introduction of new electric vehicles, its Managing Director Jalaj Gupta said on Friday. The company, which sells a range of electric vehicles, including heavy and small commercial vehicles, tractor and passenger three-wheelers under the 'Montra Electric' brand on Friday announced its foray into three-wheeler cargo segment. "Our larger objective is to be a ₹ 1 billion turnover (firm) all put together... We are looking at a time frame of four to five years, FY29 or FY30, to achieve this," Gupta told PTI here. In FY25, he said the company clocked a consolidated turnover of Rs 650 crore. The company has completed raising of Rs 3,000 crore and currently investments are ongoing in various aspects, including new product development, he added. In the next 6 to 12 months, he said the company is looking at adding an electric tractor in the 40-50 horse power (HP) segment to the existing 27 HP. Besides, the company is planning to launch variants in the heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) segment, inducing tippers. In the small vehicle segment (SCV), Gupta said TI Clean Mobility Pvt Ltd (TICMPL) is looking at electric ambulance to tap opportunity of subsidy offered by the government, besides electric bus on its existing 3.5 tonne platform. As for electric three-wheelers, the company will look at entering e-rickshaw segment, while also considering to offer "either a lower or higher battery" option over and above its existing 10.6 kilowatt battery that powers the passenger autorickshaw at present, Gupta said. On its ₹ 1 billion target, he said, "About 50 per cent should be coming from the HCV, 20 per cent from SCV, 20 per cent from three-wheeler and 10 per cent from tractor business." Further, Gupta said TICMPL has invested in four manufacturing units -- three in and around Chennai and one in Manesar, Haryana -- to produce its range of electric vehicles. "We have already created capacities which we feel are sufficient to take care of at least next couple of years," he noted. The HCV facility at Manesar has an annual capacity of up to 6,000 units. For SCV, the company has an annual capacity of 50,000 units and the three-wheeler capacity is 70,000 units across passenger and cargo variants. Gupta said the company's electric tractor production capacity is 25,000 units per annum. TICMPL's new electric three-wheeler SUPER CARGO prices start at Rs 4.37 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi, post-subsidy) and marks the company's entry in the highly strategic last-mile delivery space. It has a range of over 200 km on standard testing conditions and real-life range of 170 km, the company said. It is powered by a 13.8 kWh lithium-ion battery and will also be available with a 15-minute 100 per cent charging option. In the three-wheeler segment, the company has a presence in 101 different markets in India and plans to reach 150 markets in FY26. It has sold over 10,000 units so far.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Montra Electric launches Super Cargo electric three-wheeler in Delhi
Montra Electric , the electric mobility brand of the Murugappa Group , has launched its new cargo electric three-wheeler , the Super Cargo , in Delhi. The launch is part of the company's efforts to address the growing demand for electric last-mile cargo transport in India. The Super Cargo is powered by a 13.8 kWh lithium-ion battery and offers a certified range of over 200 km, with a real-life on-road range of 170 km. The starting price is ₹4.37 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi, post-subsidy). The vehicle comes with a five-year or 1.75 lakh km battery warranty. The new model is available in three body configurations—170 cubic feet, 140 cubic feet, and a tray deck. Montra Electric has also introduced two variants, Tray eQX and 170 eQX d+, which feature a 15-minute full-charge capability enabled through a partnership with Exponent Energy. Designed for urban and fleet use Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director of TI Clean Mobility Private Limited, launched the Super Cargo and signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for more than 200 unit deliveries at the event. He stated, 'The launch of the Montra Electric Super Cargo marks a significant milestone in our growth journey, as we strengthen our presence in the last-mile delivery segment. Entering the mid- and last-mile cargo segment has always been a strategic priority—and with SUPER CARGO, we are proud to bring that vision to life.' The Super Cargo features a powertrain producing 70 Nm of torque and 11 kW peak power, with 23 per cent gradeability and a gross vehicle weight of 1.2 tonnes. It includes features such as front disc brakes, hill-hold, reverse assist, seat belt provisions, regenerative braking, and multiple drive modes. The vehicle is constructed on a Boron Steel chassis and includes a 6.2-foot load tray. It is designed to serve both fleet operators and independent business owners, and is available through Montra Electric showrooms in more than 90 cities across India. Partnership with exponent energy Arun Vinayak, Co-Founder of Exponent Energy, said, 'We are excited to partner with Montra Electric. Our 15-minute 100 per cent charging solution has been well accepted by the market for its potential to unlock higher asset utilisation. We will closely work with the brand to expand our charging network in line with customer requirements.' The Super Cargo is available in four colours: Chilli Red, Steel Grey, Indian Blue, and Stallion Brown.
