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VTNA to Begin Taking VNL Electric Orders by End of 2026
OEM Slows Rollout After Battery-Electric Truck Climate Chills
Key Takeaways:
- Volvo Trucks North America now expects to begin taking VNL Electric orders by the end of 2026.
- Executives cited longer sales cycles and weaker market conditions for battery-electric trucks.
- The VNL Electric will be built in Virginia using Proterra’s Onyx battery platform.
LAS VEGAS — Volvo Trucks North America expects to begin taking orders for the VNL Electric tractor by the end of 2026, Peter Voorhoeve, the truck maker’s top executive, told 2026 Advanced Clean Transportation Expo attendees.
The timeline is later than originally planned, but the climate around battery-electric trucks chilled substantially since President Donald Trump returned to office for a second term.
VTNA provided a first glimpse of the configuration of its flagship Class 8 VNL tractor during a media event in June 2024.
At the time, the Volvo Group division expected to begin taking orders by the end of 2025 or early 2026 for the first configuration of the revamped VNL without an internal combustion engine.
Magnus Koeck, VTNA vice president of strategy, marketing and brand management, told Transport Topics at ACT Expo 2026 that there was now a significantly longer sales cycle for battery-electric trucks.
Koeck declined to say when production of the VNL Electric would begin.
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From left: Volvo executives Scott Young and Sasko Cuklev join VTNA President Peter Voorhoeve during a media briefing at ACT Expo 2026 in Las Vegas. (Keiron Greenhalgh/Transport Topics)
Voorhoeve said he expected demand for the battery-electric truck to come from the drayage, regional-haul and urban distribution segments of the freight market.
The truck will be equipped with Proterra’s Onyx battery platform. Volvo Group bought battery manufacturer Proterra Powered for $210 million after its parent company filed for bankruptcy. Proterra’s battery production plant is located in Greer, S.C.
VTNA’s current battery-electric truck range consists of five VNR Electric models: a 4x2 straight truck, a 6x4 straight truck, a 4x2 tractor, a 6x2 tractor and a 6x4 tractor.
The VNL Electric trucks will be built at VTNA’s New River Valley plant in Dublin Va., which underwent a $400 million revamp ahead of the launch of the overhauled VNL.
VTNA opened the order book for a diesel-powered version of the revamped VNL in April 2024. Serial production began in October 2024.
