ZM Opens California Assembly Facility Ahead of Class 8 Entry
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ZM Trucks on Aug. 28 opened its first North American battery-electric truck assembly plant in Fontana, Calif., ahead of the projected 2026 start of production of Classes 7 and 8 trucks and tractors.
The facility encompasses nearly 10 acres, including a 210,000-square-foot factory floor. The first vehicles set to roll off the production line will be Classes 4 and 5 ZM8 trucks and ZM T75 terminal tractors.
The trucks are based on Weichai New Energy’s truck platform. Weichai New Energy is a subsidiary of Chinese conglomerate Weichai Group. ZM struck a deal with Weichai in January 2024.
ZM launched the short wheelbase configuration of its ZM8 model in August, but plans to roll out the Classes 7 and 8 ZM15 and Class 8 ZM37 models before the halfway point in 2026, CEO Joost de Vries told Transport Topics in an email.
Demonstrations of the Classes 7 and 8 models will begin in the first quarter of 2026 and serial production will launch in the second quarter of 2026, said de Vries, a former Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks and Tesla executive.
Initially, the Fontana plant will have 39 employees, the company’s top executive said, but that total will grow as production ramps up.
ZM expects to build 400 terminal tractors and ZM8 trucks in 2025 and 1,200 in 2026, he added.
The SWB ZM8 has a 138-inch wheelbase, a chassis length of 234 inches and a 41-foot turning circle. The Class 4 configuration has a range of 165 miles and Class 5 configuration’s range is 150 miles. The Class 4 configuration has a maximum payload of 8,950 pounds and Class 5 configuration’s payload limit is 12,450 pounds.
ZM’s long wheelbase option of the ZM8 has a 177-inch wheelbase, a chassis length of 328 inches and a 59-foot turning circle. The Class 4 and Class 5 configurations each have a range of 150 miles. The Class 4 configuration has a maximum payload of 11,750 pounds and Class 5 configuration’s payload limit is 11,760 pounds.
“The ZM8 SWB was developed in response to real-world fleet feedback,” de Vries said when the truck was launched. “By combining shorter wheelbase agility with the power and range commercial fleets expect, we’re opening the door to more use cases than ever.” The ZM8 SWB is engineered to support 12-, 14- and 16-foot box configurations.
Within 12 months, two further models will be available.
ZM Trucks introduced its work trucks at ACT Expo 2024. (Seth Clevenger/Transport Topics)
The ZM37 BEV Class 8 day cab tractor will have a gross combined weight rating of 82,000 pounds, payload of 60,000 pounds, range of 250 miles, 1,100 pound-feet of peak torque, 480 pound-feet of continuous torque and be capable of a direct current (DC) fast charge of 67 minutes for 20% to 80% with a dual charge gun at 240 kW, according to specs available via ZM’s website.
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ZM’s ZM15 BEV will be available in Classes 7 and 8 straight truck configurations. The Class 8 version will have a gross vehicle weight rating of 48,510 pounds, payload of 34,729 pounds, range of 185 miles, top speed of 75 mph, a 386-inch chassis length, 64-foot turning circle and be capable of a DC fast charge of 45 minutes for 20% to 80% with a dual charge gun at 245 kW.
The share of components manufactured in North America is unclear at present, de Vries told TT, as the dust settles on various tariff levels imposed by the Trump administration.
“Despite policy uncertainty, we’re charging ahead,” said de Vries. “Our investment in Fontana demonstrates that commercial EVs are not just viable, they’re a superior solution for urban truck operators, delivering lower costs, higher performance, and a smarter path toward total cost of ownership.”
ZM announced plans for the Fontana plant in January before the Trump administration started to implement plans to roll back support for electric vehicles.
A total of 69 employees will be on the ground from day one at the new headquarters.
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The location of the plant and HQ are within two blocks of facilities run by ABF Freight, Estes Express Lines and Saia LTL Freight. The four companies are ranked No. 8, No. 3, and No. 7, respectively, among less-than-truckload carriers.
ZM Trucks is a unit of ZO Motors, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed ZO Future Group.
The wider ZM Motors portfolio of vehicles globally includes 10 models, including cargo vans and passenger buses, plus two hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
