In a significant push toward sustainable logistics, IKEA Supply, part of the Inter IKEA Group, in collaboration with BLR Logistiks, has deployed India’s first electric heavy-duty truck to operate on the public road network. Launched in October 2024, the truck has already completed 100 successful trips, transporting IKEA products between the Mumbai port, Pune distribution centre, and the IKEA store in Mumbai.
The initiative marks a major milestone in India’s transition to green freight and reflects IKEA’s global commitment to decarbonising its supply chain. The deployment, supported by route optimisation and infrastructure upgrades, has yielded tangible benefits in cost efficiency and emissions reduction.
“Although the purchase price of electric vehicles is higher than that of diesel trucks, we have achieved higher efficiency and cost reductions in the long term. This is an important step for IKEA and a strong signal to the transport sector in India,” said Claes Lindgren, Acting Category Transport Manager, IKEA Supply Chain Operations. He added that through close collaboration with BLR Logistiks, they have streamlined operations to maximise on-road usage and minimise idle time during loading and unloading.
Previously, the 120 km route was serviced by two conventional trucks—one between the port and distribution centre, and the other from the DC to the store. The new electric truck now handles the entire route, thanks to restructured logistics processes. IKEA has also worked closely with Indian customs to speed up container clearance and has forged new agreements between ocean freight providers and land carriers to enable seamless integration.
Turnaround time reduced by 50%
— from 2 days to 1 day
Annual cost savings of 16%
30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
206 tonnes of CO₂
Reduction of empty runs by 160,000 km
per year
BLR Logistiks, IKEA’s logistics partner, invested in the required charging infrastructure, making the deployment feasible. “We are happy with what we have achieved for this specific route and look forward to applying this way of working in the future,” said Abhishek Goyal, Director at BLR Logistiks.
Setting the Pace for IKEA’s Climate Goals
This deployment is part of IKEA’s broader sustainability vision. Transportation currently accounts for around 5% of IKEA’s total carbon footprint. The company aims to reduce the carbon footprint from every transport by an average of 70% by 2030 and to operate exclusively with zero-emission heavy-duty trucks by 2040.
“This deployment in India represents an example of how we create efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” the company stated, underscoring the importance of this pilot in scaling sustainable practices across global operations.
As the logistics industry faces increasing pressure to decarbonise, initiatives like these could serve as a blueprint for how collaborative innovation and infrastructure investment can pave the way for greener, more efficient supply chains.
