Electric vehicles manufacturer Windrose distributes multiple electric trucks in the United States, and their operations in South America have kicked off.
Windrose, a leading manufacturer of battery-electric long-haul tractors, is set to establish a significant presence in South America, marking a strategic partnership with Chilean logistics company Trailerlogistics Sudamérica.
The partnership, announced recently, involves the delivery of several hundred battery-electric class 8 semi tractors, specifically the R700 model, with a contract valued at over $60 million USD. The first vehicles are expected to be delivered by the end of 2025, with the order to be fully fulfilled by 2026.
Chile, with its excellent highways stretching over a total length of 4000 km from the desert in the north to the Antarctic in the south, becomes the fifth continent on which Windrose is officially active, following North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
Trailerlogistics, headquartered in Santiago, will take over local distribution and serve as the first customer for Windrose in Chile. The first units are expected to arrive in Chile in the third quarter of 2025 and will be tested by Trailerlogistics and selected partners as part of pilot projects.
The vehicles will be deployed on major US freight routes, including Interstate 10, Interstate 5, and Interstate 45. To support this delivery, Windrose has started shipping knock-down kits to the US, aiming for initial unit deliveries by the end of 2025 and full deployment in 2026.
The first 50 trucks under this contract feature an 800-volt architecture and are equipped with 729-kWh battery packs. These trucks can be charged via both the standard CCS1 and the new MCS, allowing a state of charge increase to 60% in just 35 minutes.
Windrose has also announced plans to expand charging infrastructure along I-10. Terawatt is supporting the introduction of the vehicles along Interstate 10 in coordination with the "I-10 Corridor Electrification Coalition" of the international organization "Smart Freight Centre".
The contract between Windrose and Nevoya for the delivery of battery-electric long-haul tractors in the US market has not yet been finalized, with both parties clarifying this point. Nevoya is actively developing its electric trucking operations in California, including charging infrastructure and fleet expansion plans, but the finalization of the Windrose contract remains pending.
Windrose has reached a significant commercial milestone in the US with this contract, marking its expansion into the American market. Hernan Searle Ferrari, CEO of Trailerlogistics, expressed confidence that Chile is the perfect market for Windrose to start in South America.
For more information about Windrose, please visit their official website at linkedin.com.
- With the strategic partnership between Windrose and Trailerlogistics Sudamérica, Chile is set to witness the entry of battery-electric class 8 semi tractors, marking a significant expansion of Windrose's business into the finance and technology-driven electric-vehicle sector, and launching Windrose's lifestyle component into South America.
- The $60 million USD contract, involving the delivery of several hundred R700 model battery-electric long-haul tractors, signifies a strategic shift in the Chilean logistics industry towards sustainable finance and technology-driven transportation solutions, such as electric-vehicles.
- As Windrose's electric-vehicles venture into the Chilean market through their partnership with Trailerlogistics, the focus on business innovation extends beyond just cars, but also encompasses the broader infrastructure development for electric-vehicle charging stations. This move echoes the global trend of prioritizing a technology-driven and finance-backed transition towards a greener lifestyle.
