Tesla Semi Leads U.S. 2,500-Truck Class 8 Electric Order

2,500-Truck Order Gives Tesla Lead Supplier Role

On September 22, Catalyst Mobility, the clean transportation nonprofit formerly known as CALSTART, and the Smart Freight Centre announced a 2,500-truck battery-electric Class 8 order in the United States. Tesla was selected as the primary supplier through a competitive request for proposals, giving the Tesla Semi program a lead position in the initial procurement. Kenworth, Volvo, and RIDE were identified as secondary suppliers. The organizations described the transaction as the largest battery-electric Class 8 truck order in the U.S., marking a major procurement commitment for heavy-duty freight electrification.

ZET SCALE Builds Demand Through Shipper Collaboration

The trucks are being ordered through ZET SCALE, or the Zero-Emission Truck Shipper-Carrier Alliance Leading Electrification, a program jointly operated by Catalyst Mobility and the Smart Freight Centre. Founding shippers include Microsoft and PepsiCo, while the alliance has stated an objective of reaching 10,000 trucks or more. The model is designed to aggregate freight demand so participating fleets can pursue electric truck procurement at greater scale. “ZET SCALE’s goals are exciting because they amplify [operational advantages] at scale,” said Dan Priestley, Tesla’s Semi program director.

Electric Trucks Planned Across 10 Freight Hubs

The initial orders are expected to be deployed across 10 freight hubs over the next few years, covering Los Angeles, Stockton, Bakersfield, Seattle/Tacoma, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Chicago, Atlanta, and the Newark/New York area. The geographic distribution places the procurement across several major freight markets rather than concentrating the trucks in one location. This approach gives participating carriers opportunities to integrate battery-electric Class 8 vehicles into different operating environments while supporting the broader ZET SCALE objective of expanding zero-emission freight deployment throughout the United States.

ZET Financial Structure Addresses Fleet Residual Risk

Financing is another component of the ZET SCALE procurement model. ZET Financial will issue the purchase orders and operate a program called ZET Lease, which is designed to remove residual-value risk from fleet owners’ balance sheets. That structure is intended to make electric truck adoption easier for fleets that may otherwise face uncertainty around the future value of battery-electric heavy-duty vehicles. By combining aggregated purchasing with a leasing mechanism, the program addresses both procurement scale and a financial consideration that can influence fleet decisions when adopting newer vehicle technologies.

Competitive Supplier Structure Keeps Multiple Options Available

The competitive RFP resulted in Tesla receiving the primary OEM position while Kenworth, Volvo, and RIDE were named as secondary suppliers. The structure means the initial procurement is not presented as a single-manufacturer arrangement, giving participating carriers additional manufacturer options for operational requirements. The inclusion of multiple truck makers also establishes a broader supplier framework around the ZET SCALE program. With the alliance targeting more than 10,000 trucks over time, the first 2,500-unit order provides the initial scale on which future procurement activity can build.

Industry Impact & Outlook

The development could accelerate commercial-vehicle electrification by combining concentrated shipper demand, multiple OEM options, and a financing structure intended to reduce residual-value exposure for fleets. Its importance is particularly relevant across the 10 identified freight hubs, where participating carriers will need to integrate battery-electric Class 8 trucks into their operations. The stated target of 10,000 trucks or more also indicates that the initial order is intended as a foundation for broader deployment. The next stages will depend on how the procurement is allocated among suppliers, how fleets implement the vehicles, and how subsequent ZET SCALE orders develop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Tesla Semi role in the ZET SCALE order?
The Tesla Semi program received the primary OEM position in ZET SCALE’s initial 2,500-truck battery-electric Class 8 procurement, while Kenworth, Volvo, and RIDE were named as secondary suppliers. The trucks are being ordered through an alliance operated by Catalyst Mobility and the Smart Freight Centre, with the stated objective of scaling electric freight deployment. Founding shippers include Microsoft and PepsiCo. The initial vehicles are planned for deployment across 10 freight hubs in the United States over the next few years.

How does ZET Financial support electric truck adoption?
ZET Financial is responsible for issuing the purchase orders and operating the ZET Lease program associated with the initial procurement. The leasing structure is designed to take residual-value risk away from fleet owners, addressing a financial consideration associated with adopting newer battery-electric heavy-duty vehicles. By combining financing with aggregated procurement, ZET SCALE seeks to make larger-scale electric truck deployment more practical for participating fleets. The program is part of the alliance’s broader objective to reach 10,000 trucks or more over time.