IKEA introduces a robust electric truck for use on the public roadways of Maharashtra.

IKEA supply, which is part of Inter IKEA group, and BLR logistics have started their first electric heavy-duty truck to run on public roads in India. The truck, which delivers IKEA products between the ports of Mumbai, with the distribution center in Pune, and the IKEA store in Mumbai.

The truck completed its 100th journey after being deployed in October 2024. The vehicle is manufactured and supplied by Montra Electric Trucks. 

Results of Deployment

This is a strategic alliance between IKEA, BLR Logistics, and other partners. According to the company, the deployment has resulted in reducing turnaround time from 2 to 1 day, and a significant cost reduction by 16%, with reduction in empty runs by around 1,60,000 Km per year.

There is also a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, to around 206 tons, for a particular route each year. 

If we look previously, the same 120 Km three-stop route was shared by two traditional diesel trucks: One driving between the port and the DC, and the second between DC and IKEA store in Mumbai. 

To start this collaboration, IKEA partnered with Indian customs, and drafted a new agreement with the ocean service provider to transport containers to the port and deployed a land carrier to take care of the route and manage it. The land carrier has also invested in developing the charging stations on the route, to support the deployment process. 

The Acting Category Transport Manager, IKEA Supply Chain Operations, Claes Lindgren said: “The purchase of electric trucks is comparatively higher than diesel trucks, but we have achieved higher efficiency and significant cost savings for the long term, with a joint effort with our partner, we have also optimised the route and installed charging stations on the dedicated route to ensure the truck is used more on roads, and less during idling in loading and unloading processes.”

The Director of BLR Logistics, Abhishek Goyal, also expressed his views, “We are happy with what we have achieved for the dedicated route and look forward to applying the similar way of transportation in the future. This deployment in India is a classic example of how we increase our efficiency while reducing costs and carbon emissions.”