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Nearly 160,000 medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks were sold worldwide in the first half of 2026, a record and about 75% more than in the same period of 2025, according to BloombergNEF. China accounted for more than nine in 10 sales, while the U.S. market was described by the firm as near a standstill. Rising diesel prices linked in the report to the Iran war may improve electric trucks’ operating-cost advantage, but upfront costs and policy differences remain significant.
Global sales of medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks reached nearly 160,000 in the first half of 2026, a record and an increase of about 75% from the same period last year, according to BloombergNEF. The growth comes as diesel prices rise worldwide, strengthening the potential operating-cost advantage of electric trucks even as their purchase prices remain higher.
The sales figure covers the first six months of 2026 and reflects a longer-running increase in electric truck adoption, according to the report. BloombergNEF links the recent rise in fuel costs to the Iran war and says higher diesel prices can shorten the time it takes fleet operators to recover an electric truck’s higher upfront cost through lower fuel and maintenance expenses. The size of any savings depends on local fuel and electricity prices, vehicle use and purchase costs.
China accounted for more than nine out of every 10 electric trucks sold worldwide during the period. BloombergNEF attributes the country’s lead to supportive policies and a large battery supply chain. The report also points to adoption elsewhere: electric trucks make up about one in five truck sales in China, while their share is higher in Norway and Switzerland.
Bloomberg News reported that China’s exports of electric tractor trucks in the first half of 2026 were more than double the total for all of 2025. In the United States, by contrast, BloombergNEF described the battery-electric truck market as at a “near standstill,” citing policy and cost obstacles. The report identifies California incentives and Tesla’s start of mass production of its electric semitruck in Nevada as countervailing developments.
Fuel Costs Reshape Fleet Economics
Diesel is a major operating expense for many commercial fleets, so sustained increases can change how operators weigh the higher initial price of an electric truck against its expected running costs. Rising fuel costs may improve the payback case for electrification, particularly for vehicles that travel frequently and can charge reliably. That does not mean every fleet will save money: electricity rates, charging access, vehicle range, financing and the purchase price all affect the calculation.
The contrasting regional figures also show that the market’s growth is uneven. China’s dominant share and expanding exports could influence availability and competition in other countries, while U.S. policy and cost barriers may restrain adoption there. For transport companies, the shift matters because purchasing decisions made now can shape fuel exposure, infrastructure needs and fleet emissions for years.
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China Leads, U.S. Lags
Electric truck sales had been building for years before the diesel-price rise described in the report. The first-half 2026 record therefore reflects an established growth trend as well as a possible response to more expensive fuel; the available figures do not isolate how much of the increase was caused by diesel prices.
Policy conditions differ sharply by market. BloombergNEF says China has strong support for the shift and an extensive battery supply chain. In the U.S., the report cites the cancellation of federal zero-emissions vehicle tax credits, frozen grants for electric trucks and chargers, and congressional action nullifying California’s authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards. California has committed billions of dollars in incentives and has more zero-emissions heavy-duty trucks on the road than any other state, according to the report.
Tesla has announced that it began mass production of its electric semitruck at a Nevada factory. BloombergNEF interviews cited in the report put its price at $250,000 to $300,000 and describe its price as competitive; the report also says it charges faster and has a longer range than electric trucks from traditional manufacturers. These are reported comparisons, not independently detailed performance data in the available material.
““near standstill””
— BloombergNEF
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Payback and U.S. Demand Remain Unclear
The reported sales data do not show how much of the 2026 increase was driven by diesel prices, rather than established adoption trends, policy support, supply or other factors. The report also does not provide a global breakdown of operating-cost savings or the time needed for fleets to recoup higher purchase prices. Those outcomes vary by route, utilization, electricity costs and charging arrangements.
It is also unclear whether China’s export growth will continue at the same pace or how many exported trucks will be sold and put into service in other markets. For the United States, the report offers no new national sales total or forecast. California’s incentives and Tesla’s production start are relevant developments, but their effect on the broader U.S. market has not yet been established.
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Sales Data and Fleet Rollouts Ahead
The next indication of whether momentum is continuing will come from subsequent electric truck sales reports and evidence on deliveries, exports and vehicles entering service. Fleet operators’ purchase decisions will also show whether higher diesel costs are translating into more orders, rather than merely improving the projected economics of electric models.
In the U.S., attention will be on whether California incentives and Tesla’s production can support wider adoption amid the policy and cost constraints identified by BloombergNEF. Across markets, the pace of charging infrastructure expansion, vehicle prices and diesel and electricity costs will help determine how quickly the first-half sales record leads to larger electric fleets.
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Key Questions
How many electric trucks were sold worldwide in the first half of 2026?
BloombergNEF says nearly 160,000 medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks were sold worldwide from January through June 2026, about 75% more than in the first half of 2025.
Which country led electric truck sales?
China accounted for more than nine in 10 electric trucks sold worldwide in the first half of 2026, according to BloombergNEF.
Are higher diesel prices the reason sales increased?
The report says higher diesel prices strengthen the cost case for electric trucks, but the sales figures do not establish how much the fuel-price rise contributed to the increase. Electric truck adoption had already been growing for years.
What is happening in the U.S. electric truck market?
BloombergNEF described the U.S. battery-electric truck market as at a “near standstill,” citing policy and cost headwinds. The report also points to California incentives and Tesla’s start of semitruck mass production as developments that could support the industry.
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