Nikola has apparently beaten Tesla in the race to launch new electric semi trucks in the market. The company has begun production of its electric semis at its plant in the US while Elon Musk‘s Tesla faces a delay.
The news arrives from a Forbes report that stated that production of the new electric semis at the Arizona plant. These new trucks will be hitting in the market a whole year ahead of the highly anticipated Tesla Semi. As of right now, the plant has begun commercial production of the battery powered Tre trucks earlier this week. The 250,000 square foot facility is now able to produce one truck per day at the moment. Although, the company has plans on a second phase of the factory, which should go live by 2023.
Notably, the second phase will include Tre trucks powered by Hydrogen. According to Nikola CEO Mark Russell “We have been a pre revenue startup for years, where everything we spent we had to raise from investors. Today marks the day when we transition to customer deliveries. We have trucks that we can deliver to customers and get paid for. We’re now going to be a revenue-producing company and will be forever.”
The company claims that the Tre has the longest range of any electric semi on the market, offering 350 miles (roughly 563 kilometers) per charge from its 753 kWh battery pack. This large battery is better than any of its potential rivals in the market, including offerings from Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, BYD, Volvo and Lion Electric.
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