Maersk to scale Indian EV distribution fleet beyond 500 vehicles

Maersk announced plans to expand its Indian electric-vehicle fleet to over 500 vehicles across 26 cities, covering first-, middle-, and last-mile distribution. The move signals accelerating demand among Indian shippers seeking to decarbonise supply chains, reinforcing logistics electrification as a Scope 3 lever for domestic firms.

Less than a year after first deploying EVs in India, Maersk is expanding its electric contingent to over 500 vehicles across 26 cities, spanning first-mile, middle-mile, and last-mile distribution. The logistics group targets Net Zero operations and fully green customer solutions by 2040, requiring decarbonisation across all logistics phases. Maersk introduced three- and four-wheeler EVs in Mumbai in September 2022 and deployed them for an initial customer in the National Capital Region, with cumulative fleet distance exceeding 135,000 kilometres.

Indian e-commerce and distribution clients are the primary beneficiaries, as middle- and last-mile demand surges alongside e-commerce growth. Maersk partnered with a major Indian e-commerce platform, deploying a dedicated EV fleet with cargo capacities of 550 to 700 kilograms and driving ranges exceeding 120 kilometres across more than 15 cities. Over 200 vehicles already operate, with 300 more planned. Customers range from those moving ready-to-eat salads in the NCR to groceries and lifestyle items nationwide.

Indian shippers and logistics buyers should monitor the build-out of dedicated EV fleets and the supporting charging infrastructure, which Maersk is developing alongside warehouse solar integration nationwide. Companies seeking supply-chain emission reductions can evaluate EV-based distribution as customers increasingly demand green alternatives. Affected entities should track fleet expansion to over 500 vehicles and assess how vehicle range and cargo capacity match their distribution radius and commodity needs as the EV distribution market matures across Indian cities.

Key figure — Fleet target: over 500 electric vehicles across 26 Indian cities