Nikola racks up sales of battery-electric truck Tre in the US

The US logistics company, Heniff Transportation Systems, plans to procure 100 Nikola Tre battery-electric trucks from Nikola. Deliveries of the first ten examples are to begin in the first half of this year.

++ This article has been updated, please continue reading below. ++

The agreement between Nikola Trucks, Thomson Truck Centers and Heniff Transportation Systems also stipulates that after the successful deployment of these first Nikola Tre vehicles, another 90 electric trucks will be added to the Heniff fleet.

Under the agreement, Thomson Truck Centers – a company that goes back to 1944 and is now a part of Nikola’s sales and dealer network – will provide sales, service, maintenance and the required energy infrastructure for the fully electric Nikole Tre trucks with a fleet-as-service model.

“The Nikola dealer network is a key component to delivering innovative zero-emissions products to our customers,” explained Nikola Energy and Commercial President Pablo Koziner. “Thompson will provide the sales, parts, and service solutions for the Nikola trucks purchased by Heniff, and also the related electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This agreement is intended to be a true turnkey solution, with the goal for Heniff Transportation to realize zero-emissions transportation with first-class dealer support.”

Henniff is a family of companies active in liquid bulk transportation, rail transport, ISO depot operations, tank cleaning and related maintenance. These companies are spread over 100 locations across the USA, utilizing over 2,000 tractors in an integrated freight network.

Bob Heniff, CEO of Heniff Transportation, said: “After visiting with Nikola’s leadership team, touring the new Coolidge, Arizona manufacturing facility, and taking a test ride in the Nikola Tre BEV, we were impressed by the power, performance, engineering, and quality of the truck.”

Nikola Motors produces both battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks. The first battery-electric Nikola Tre trucks have already been delivered in the USA to logistics provider Total Transportation Services (TSSI), which serves the California Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Here, TSSI had signed a memorandum of understanding with Nikola in May to deliver a total of 100 BEV and FCEV trucks as reported.

In October just passed, Nikola Motor announced a collaboration with international multi-service flatbed transportation company PGT Trucking to lease 100 Nikola Tre hydrogen fuel cell trucks. Deliveries of the FCEV trucks to PGT are expected to launch in 2023, when production commences at Nikola’s manufacturing plant in Coolidge, Arizona.

Update 06 January 2022

Two days after announcing the above order, Nikola Motors and its dealer Thomson Truck Centers has reached a similar agreement with USA Truck. A letter of intent will see the company from Arkansas initially purchase ten Nikola Tre trucks with an option to buy another 90 over the next two years.

The contract envisions a “fleet-as-a-service” model where Thompson will provide sales, service, maintenance, and charging infrastructure required to operate the BEV trucks, expected to be delivered in the first half of 2022. It is the first order of all-electric trucks for USA Truck.

With more than 2,000 drivers, US Truck is regarded as one of America’s largest over-the-road truckload carriers and brokers.

Update 08 January 2022

Nikola continues selling its battery-electric truck Tre in the US as the company signs a letter of intent with Saia LTL Freight. Sai will buy or lease up to 100 electric trucks from Nikola if a trial throughout the first half of 2022 with three vehicles proves a success.

Subsequent deliveries would then occur between 2022 and 2024 with the initial 25 targeted for this year.

Nikola President, Energy and Commercial Pablo Koziner considered Saia a “key development partner for Nikola,” when announcing the deal.

Unlike similar agreements with Heniff and US Trucks described above, Nikola made the deal directly with Saia and not through its dealer Thompson Truck Centers.

nikolamotor.com, nikolamotor.com (update 06 January ’22), nikolamotor.com (update 08 January ’22)