ZET SCALE Secures 2,500-Truck Order, Naming Tesla as Primary Supplier

The Zero-Emission Truck Shipper-Carrier Alliance Leading Electrification (ZET SCALE) announced an order for up to 2,500 battery-electric Class 8 trucks, selecting Tesla as the primary OEM. Kenworth, RIDE and Volvo are listed as secondary options. ZET Financial will purchase the trucks and lease them to participating fleets, with deliveries slated to begin in Q4 2026 and the full order supplied by Tesla within 18 months, according to a Catalyst Mobility spokesperson.

Transport TopicsClean TechnicaTeslaratiRecord 2,500 Electric Truck Order Puts Tesla Semi in the Spotlight Tesla Semi drives record of 2,500 electric trucks in the U.S., leading the transformation of heavy transportation Tesla Named Primary Supplier for Largest Electric Class 8 Truck Order The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Electrek

ZET SCALE aggregates freight demand from large shippers—including Microsoft and PepsiCo—to lower vehicle prices, share residual-value risk, and accelerate zero-emission heavy-duty trucks across North America. The alliance aims to place 10,000 electric Class 8 trucks on U.S. highways and aligns with California’s SB 1213 legislation on price transparency and financing for clean-truck markets.

Clean TechnicaRecord 2,500 Electric Truck Order Puts Tesla Semi in the Spotlight Transport TopicsTeslaratiTesla Semi drives record of 2,500 electric trucks in the U.S., leading the transformation of heavy transportation Tesla Named Primary Supplier for Largest Electric Class 8 Truck Order

• Order size: 2,500 electric Class 8 trucks, roughly equal to the current total U.S. fleet of such vehicles.

Teslarati

• Deployment hubs: Los Angeles, Stockton, Bakersfield, Seattle/Tacoma, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Chicago, Atlanta, and Newark/New York.

Transport Topics

• Production capacity: Tesla’s Nevada Semi factory can produce up to 50,000 trucks annually; analysts project 5,000-15,000 deliveries in 2026.

Electrek

• Cost comparison: Diesel Class 8 trucks average $180,000; electric counterparts about $400,000.

Clean Technica

• Financing model: ZET Financial’s “ZET Lease” program shifts residual-value risk from fleet balance sheets to the financing arm.

Transport Topics

• Delivery timeline: Only a broad “fourth-quarter 2026” window is provided.

Transport Topics

• Price impact: No independent verification of the final purchase price for the Tesla Semis.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

• Manufacturer split: Allocation among Tesla, Kenworth, RIDE and Volvo remains undisclosed.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

• “After evaluating price, range, charging capability, and production capacity, the Alliance selected Tesla as its primary OEM for the initial 2,500 trucks,” — ZET SCALE

Clean Technica

• “California is making significant investments in our clean transportation future, and taxpayers and fleet operators deserve to know those investments are delivering real value,” — Eloise Gómez Reyes

Clean Technica

The first wave will roll out the 2,500 trucks across the ten hubs over the coming years. ZET SCALE’s longer-term target remains 10,000 electric Class 8 trucks, with success hinging on the “ZET Lease” model and charging infrastructure keeping pace. The announcement came two days before Tesla inaugurated its Nevada Semi factory on September 24.

Transport Topics