Nikola Sells 88 Class 8 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks in Q3
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Nikola sold 88 Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks in the third quarter of 2024, the truck maker said Oct. 2.
The Phoenix-based company sold 72 trucks in the second quarter of 2024.
Through the first nine months of 2024, Nikola sold 200 of its Tre FCET.
“This is a record sales quarter for Nikola, with 88 hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks wholesaled to our dealers for end customers,” said Nikola CEO Steve Girsky.
Sales of the truck began in the final quarter of 2024. Production of the vehicle began July 31, 2023, after Nikola retooled its Coolidge, Ariz., factory.
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“Despite overall market headwinds, Nikola remains focused on our mission to pioneer solutions for a zero-emission world, and we’re doing it one truck at a time,” Girsky said.
U.S. Class 8 retail sales fell year on year in August, resuming a pattern after an anomalous July saw the first increase in 11 consecutive months. Sales also fell on a month-on-month basis.
Sales in August fell 11.4% to 20,671 vehicles from 23,342 units last year. Sales also decreased 3.4% from 21,398 units reported in July. Year-to-date sales were down 13.6% to 155,576 units from 180,106.
Truck sales weakness mirrored that of the freight environment, with carriers waiting for an uptick in demand and rates.
Carriers’ focus is on efficiency at present, with many shying away from adding additional rolling stock, be that tractors or trailers, executives told the recent 2024 FTR Transportation Conference.
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Sources also say they are waiting to see what the impact of the upcoming presidential election and ongoing ports strike on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts will be.
Appetite for alternative fuel semis is also stymied by infrastructure concerns, although Nikola — as are its peers — is seeking to alleviate that apprehension.
In September, the truck maker launched its first dealer-based refueling station at Tom’s Truck Center’s Santa Fe Springs location. Nikola currently has two other Hyla hydrogen refueling locations in California — Long Beach and Ontario.
The company expects 14 refueling solutions will be operational by the end of 2024, it said, including at a FirstElement Fuel site in Oakland, Calif.
With California’s financial support for zero-emission trucks, the state often debuts the first facilities for infrastructure developers, including those with hydrogen-powered commercial vehicle refueling ambitions such as the Daimler Truck North America-backed Greenlane and industrial gases giant Air Products.
