Horizon Motor's battery-electric Class 8 semi, a direct rival to the Tesla Semi, on display at ACT Expo 2026.
Clean Trucking
What you need to know:
- Horizon Motor earns CARB HVIP approval for its full Class 3–Class 8 electric truck lineup, securing broad eligibility under California's zero-emission commercial vehicle incentive program
- Fleets and small businesses can access major HVIP incentives for electric trucks, including up to $330,000 in Class 8 funding plus additional federal EV tax credits and point-of-sale savings
- The company unveiled a new Tesla Semi competitor at ACT Expo 2026, offering up to 350 miles of range, a 400-kWh LFP battery pack, and a conventional left-hand driver layout
- Horizon claims its electric commercial trucks deliver up to 60% fuel savings and 30–50% lower maintenance costs, with future solid-state batteries expected to further boost performance
Only a few days following the conclusion of ACT Expo 2026 in Las Vegas, Horizon Motor has announced that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved its entire 2026 battery-electric commercial truck lineup for the state's Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), making it one of the few manufacturers to receive HVIP eligibility across its entire Class 3 through Class 8 battery-electric vehicle lineup.
[Related: California's HVIP surpasses $1B in redeemed vouchers for MD, HD clean vehicles]
To recap, the HVIP program provides point-of-sale incentives that lower the upfront cost of eligible zero-emission commercial vehicles for fleets and businesses across the Golden State.
Small businesses purchasing a qualifying Class 8 Horizon truck may be eligible for up to $330,000 in combined California incentives through HVIP and additional small-business funding opportunities. Other buyers can also significantly reduce acquisition costs through a combination of state incentives and available federal tax credits, with total savings on certain Class 8 models potentially exceeding $200,000.
With Athens, Ohio-based Horizon now approved under HVIP, customers purchasing qualifying trucks can receive voucher savings immediately at the time of sale.
Athens, Ohio-based Horizon Motor's Class 3 through Class 8 battery-electric commercial vehicle lineup.Horizon Motor"Our full lineup, Class 3 through Class 8, is now HVIP approved," said Sean Jones, CEO of Horizon. "We went from zero to a complete, approved electric truck line in two years, assembled in Ohio, and as far as we know, no other manufacturer has done that across the full commercial truck spectrum. That is what we set out to do, and we are just getting started."
According to the company, its electric trucks can reduce fuel expenses by as much as 60% and lower maintenance costs by an estimated 30% to 50% compared with comparable diesel-powered vehicles.
Horizon's Class 8 Tesla Semi rival
Last week in Las Vegas, Horizon unveiled its Class 8 battery-electric semi, which is already on sale and being marketed as a direct rival to the Tesla Semi.
Horizon Motor's battery-electric Class 8 semi, a direct rival to the Tesla Semi, on display at ACT Expo 2026.Clean Trucking"What we did was we took [a look at] all of [the Tesla Semi]," Jones told Clean Trucking at the event. "We listened to all the blurbs and everything about what people didn't like about the Tesla Semi... and then we incorporated that into ours."
One of those "blurbs" is the Tesla Semi's central driving position, whereas the so-far-unnamed Horizon Class 8 uses a traditional left-side driver layout.
The dashboard and left-hand driver position of Horizon Motor's Class 8 semi, on display at ACT Expo 2026.Clean TruckingHorizon's Class 8 semi uses a 400-kilowatt lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, offering up to 350 miles of fully loaded range.
For comparison, the Standard Range and Long Range Tesla Semi are rated for approximately 325 miles and 500 miles of range, respectively.
However, the company plans to incorporate solid-state batteries in the near future thanks to a new partnership with Chery Automotive.
"So LFP are what we use now," Jones said. "We went to those because they're practically indestructible. But the new solid-state batteries basically have twice the energy density for the same weight."
Power currently comes from a 400-kilowatt LFP battery pack that delivers up to 350 miles of range under a full load. Horizon also plans to introduce solid-state battery technology in future models, a move that could either extend driving range or substantially reduce vehicle weight.
Horizon confirmed it is now accepting orders for what could emerge as a "dark horse" competitor to the Tesla Semi.
