WattEV Secures 370 Tesla Semis in Historic California Electric Truck Deal

Breaking: WattEV Orders 370 Tesla Semis in Largest Single EV Truck Deployment in California

LONG BEACH, CA – WattEV has placed an order for 370 Tesla Semi Class 8 electric trucks, marking the largest single deployment of zero-emission heavy-duty trucks in California history, the company announced today.

More than 300 of the trucks will operate under a joint program with the Port of Oakland, targeting drayage routes that link the port with Southern California distribution centers. The remaining units will serve other freight corridors across the state.

The order comes just days after Tesla confirmed the first Semi rolled off its high-volume production line at the new factory adjacent to Gigafactory Nevada, signaling a major milestone for the electric vehicle maker’s commercial truck ambitions.

“This isn’t just a purchase—it’s a declaration that electric trucking is ready for prime time,” said Dr. Emily Tran, a senior analyst at the Center for Transportation and the Environment. “WattEV is betting big on Tesla’s production capacity, and the Port of Oakland is placing its reputation behind that bet.”

WattEV CEO Salim Youssef added, “Our customers demand clean, reliable, and cost-effective freight solutions. With the Tesla Semi, we’re delivering all three at scale.”

Background: The Push for Zero-Emission Drayage

California’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule requires that by 2035, all new drayage trucks operating at seaports be zero-emission. The Port of Oakland has set an interim goal of 100% zero-emission truck visits by 2030.

WattEV operates a growing network of charging depots, including a high-power megawatt charging station near the Port of Oakland. The company plans to expand that infrastructure to support the new fleet.

Previously, the largest single EV truck order in California was for 60 trucks. This 370-unit deal shatters that record.

What This Means for Freight and Emissions

The deployment will remove an estimated 180,000 tons of CO₂ annually compared to diesel trucks, according to WattEV’s preliminary analysis. That’s equivalent to taking 38,000 passenger cars off the road.

For Tesla, the order validates its production ramp: the company now has a committed customer for roughly 10% of its initial Semi output. It also pressures competitors like Daimler and Nikola to accelerate their own electric truck deliveries.

“This is a shot across the bow for legacy truck makers,” said Mark Zhao, a transportation electrification expert at the University of California, Davis. “WattEV is showing that fleet operators are ready to move beyond pilot programs and into full-scale adoption.”

However, challenges remain. Charging infrastructure at the Port of Oakland must be upgraded to handle dozens of Megawatt Charging System stations simultaneously. WattEV says it will break ground on a new depot next month.

The trucks are expected to begin arriving in late 2024, with full deployment targeted by the end of 2025.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Order size: 370 Tesla Semis
• Primary deployment: Port of Oakland drayage program (300+ trucks)
• Charger network: WattEV’s existing and planned depots around California
• Environmental impact: 180,000 tons of CO₂ reduction per year

“We are not just buying trucks—we are building the ecosystem to operate them,” Youssef told reporters. “This is how you decarbonize freight.”