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BloombergNEF says worldwide sales of medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks reached nearly 160,000 in the first half of 2026, about 75% above the same period in 2025. China accounted for more than nine out of 10 sales, while higher diesel prices are improving the operating-cost case for electric trucks; growth remains uneven, with the U.S. market described as near a standstill.
Worldwide sales of medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks reached nearly 160,000 in the first half of 2026, about 75% higher than in the first half of 2025, according to BloombergNEF research cited by Canary Media. Rising diesel prices, linked in the report to the Iran war, are adding to the financial case for electric fleets, though China accounts for the overwhelming majority of sales and the U.S. market remains weak.
The sales figure covers electric trucks sold globally from January through June 2026. BloombergNEF’s estimate, as reported by Canary Media, marks a record for the first half of a year and continues a growth trend that the report says has been building for several years. The source does not provide a breakdown of the total by truck type, manufacturer or country beyond China’s dominant share.
More than nine out of 10 electric trucks sold worldwide during the six-month period were sold in China. BloombergNEF attributes China’s lead in part to supportive government policies and an extensive battery supply chain. The source also reports that China’s exports of electric tractor trucks in the first half of 2026 were already more than double the total exported during all of 2025, citing Bloomberg News.
Sales growth is not uniform across markets. BloombergNEF characterizes the U.S. battery-electric truck market as being at a “near standstill,” citing policy and cost barriers. The report points to California’s incentives and Tesla’s start of mass production of its electric semitruck in Nevada as signs of activity, but does not give figures showing how either development has changed U.S. sales.
Fuel Costs Strengthen Fleet Economics
Diesel prices matter to trucking operators because fuel is an ongoing operating expense. When diesel becomes more expensive, an electric truck’s lower operating and maintenance costs may offset its higher purchase price sooner. The source describes this as a faster payback when fuel prices rise, but provides no specific fuel-price series, ownership-cost calculation or payback period. The size of the benefit will depend on factors such as vehicle use, electricity costs, charging access and the truck’s purchase price.
The sales increase suggests that adoption is expanding globally, but the concentration in China also shows that the shift is not proceeding evenly. For fleet owners, manufacturers and policymakers, the figures indicate both a growing market and a wide gap between countries’ conditions for adoption. A record global total does not mean electric trucks have replaced diesel across the sector.
China Leads as Markets Diverge
China’s dominance is accompanied by a high domestic adoption rate: the source says about one in five trucks sold in China is electric. It also notes that the electric share of truck sales is higher in Norway and Switzerland. These comparisons refer to shares of new truck sales, not the portion of each country’s entire truck fleet that is electric.
The U.S. picture in the report includes policy and cost constraints alongside individual signs of investment. It says the second Trump administration ended federal tax credits for zero-emission vehicles, froze grants for electric trucks and chargers, and worked with Congress to nullify California’s authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards. In contrast, California has committed billions of dollars in incentives and has more zero-emission heavy-duty trucks on the road than any other state, according to the source.
Tesla said it had begun mass production of its electric semitruck at a Nevada factory. BloombergNEF interviews cited in the report described its stated price range of $250,000 to $300,000 as competitive and its range and charging speed as advantages over electric trucks from traditional manufacturers. Those assessments are attributed views, not independently verified comparisons in the material provided.
Costs and Market Pace Remain Unclear
The figures reported do not establish how much of the sales growth came from higher diesel prices, rather than policy support, changing vehicle availability or other market conditions. The source gives no diesel price data or comparison by region, so the scale of the fuel-price effect cannot be calculated from the information provided.
It is also unclear how many electric trucks were sold outside China, how much of the global increase came from particular manufacturers, and whether the first-half pace will continue through the rest of 2026. The report does not provide comparable total-cost estimates across countries or details on charging infrastructure, electricity prices and truck utilization. Those factors can change the economics for individual fleets.
Second-Half Sales Will Test Momentum
The next useful measure will be whether electric truck sales remain strong in the second half of 2026 and whether growth spreads beyond China. Further data on regional sales, exports and new truck registrations would help show whether rising diesel costs are translating into fleet purchases or mainly reinforcing an existing trend.
In the United States, the market’s direction will depend in part on policy, costs, vehicle supply and access to charging. Tesla’s reported production start and California’s incentive programs are developments to watch, but the source does not provide future sales targets or dates for additional policy decisions. No later-year sales outcome is confirmed in the information available.
Key Questions
How many electric trucks were sold worldwide in the first half of 2026?
BloombergNEF estimates that nearly 160,000 medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks were sold worldwide from January through June 2026.
How does that compare with the same period in 2025?
The reported total was about 75% higher than sales in the first half of 2025, according to BloombergNEF figures cited by Canary Media.
Which country sold the most electric trucks?
China accounted for more than nine out of 10 global sales in the first half of 2026, according to the report. It cites policy support and a large battery supply chain as factors behind the country’s lead.
Are higher diesel prices the reason electric truck sales are rising?
The source says higher diesel prices are strengthening the financial case for electric trucks because they can cost less to operate and maintain. It does not quantify how much of the sales increase is attributable to fuel prices, so they should not be treated as the sole cause.
Is the electric truck market growing at the same pace in the United States?
No. BloombergNEF describes the U.S. battery-electric truck market as being at a “near standstill,” citing policy and cost barriers. The report also identifies California incentives and Tesla’s Nevada production start as U.S. developments, but supplies no evidence that they have yet reversed that trend.
Source: rss
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