A joint venture manufacturing facility for electric heavy-duty trucks has been unveiled by EV truck startup Nikola and IVECO.
Located in Ulm, Germany, the site is dedicated to the Nikola Tre electric heavy-duty trucks and will be ready to start production by the end of the year.
The first Nikola Tre models produced will be delivered to select customers in the United States in 2022.
In addition to the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) production model, a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) Nikola Tre will enter production in Ulm by the end of 2023, the companies say.
The facility spans 50,000 square meters, of which 25,000 are covered. The joint investment involves a projected 160 suppliers in the process from start to finish.
The production line is expected to be capable of manufacturing around 1000 units per shift per year and is expected to undergo “progressive ramp-up in the following years”.
Gerrit Marx, CNH Industrial commercial and specialty vehicles president and IVECO Group designated chief executive, says the partnership was first announced in September 2019 and remains on track despite the global pandemic.
“Thanks to IVECO’s proven expertise and established footprint we have provided a platform upon which Nikola’s technology can thrive.
“Now our focus is on ensuring the success of this operation and jointly taking the lead when it comes to climate neutral long and short haul heavy-duty transport,” Marx says.
Nikola chief executive Mark Russell says it’s an important milestone for the company with its “vision to be a global leader in zero-emissions transportation solutions”.
The Nikola Tre is based on the IVECO S-WAY truck platform with an electric axle co-designed and produced by FPT Industrial.
It features Nikola’s advanced electric and fuel cell technology, along with key components provided by Bosch.
The teams have designed a modular platform capable of fuel cell as well as battery propulsion technology. Launching the battery technology first “will drive the maturity of the underlying platform before adding the fuel cell as a range-extension technology”, the companies say.
