Tesla has secured a major new order for its Semi, with the electric Class 8 truck selected as the primary vehicle for a 2,500-truck purchase. The massive deal will be coordinated through ZET SCALE, a freight electrification initiative backed by some of the world’s largest shippers.
The deal, announced Tuesday by Catalyst Mobility and Smart Freight Centre, represents the largest electric truck order in U.S. history. According to the organizations, the purchase alone would nearly double the number of battery-electric Class 8 trucks currently operating in the country.
Tesla was selected following an independent competitive bidding process that evaluated manufacturers on pricing, range, charging capabilities, and production capacity. Kenworth, RIDE, and Volvo were also selected as secondary manufacturers.
No specific volumes for each manufacturer were released, but as the primary manufacturer, Tesla is expected to account for the majority of the 2,500 truck order.
“The Tesla Semi is designed for lower cost per mile operations than diesel,” said Dan Priestley, Director of the Tesla Semi Program. “ZET SCALE’s goals are exciting because they take the operational cost advantage and predictability that electricity provides and amplifies it at scale. We are proud to have been the primary selection in this RFP and look forward to giving shippers and carriers a new competitive edge.”
The first deployments will focus on 10 major freight hubs across the United States, including Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and the New York City area.
The announcement comes as Tesla prepares to ramp up Semi production at its dedicated factory in Nevada, which is designed for an eventual annual capacity of 50,000 trucks. The factory opened earlier this year, but will get its official inauguration on Thursday.
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