BYD Launches Electric Truck to Rival Tesla Semi in Europe
BYD Launches 600 km Electric Truck with 20-Minute Charging to Rival Tesla Semi in Europe
BYD has unveiled the ETT 44, a new heavy-duty electric truck designed specifically for the European market. The 44-tonne 4×2 tractor was presented at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, Germany, as BYD expands from lighter commercial vehicles into long-haul electric trucking. The company says the truck combines up to 1,000 horsepower with a claimed driving range of up to 600 kilometers.
The ETT 44 is equipped with BYD’s 651 kWh Blade Battery using LFP battery technology. According to BYD, the truck can travel up to 600 km on a charge, although the real-world range will depend on factors such as payload, road conditions, speed, weather and driving conditions. The truck is designed for a gross combination weight of up to 44 tones, putting it directly into the heavy-duty European freight market.
Analysts believe BYD’s ETT 44 could challenge Tesla’s Semi in the European electric truck market. The 44-ton electric truck is designed for heavy-duty transport and could compete with Tesla as European demand for zero-emission commercial vehicles continues to grow.
One of the most notable features is its megawatt charging capability. BYD says the ETT 44 can accept charging power of up to 1.5 MW through a Megawatt Charging System, or MCS. The company claims the battery can charge from 20% to 80% in about 20 minutes, adding as much as 400 km of claimed driving range during that charging stop.
This charging performance is aimed at reducing downtime for long-distance freight operators. Instead of requiring a lengthy charging break, a fleet could potentially recover a substantial amount of range during a scheduled stop. BYD is presenting the technology as part of a broader effort to make battery-electric trucks more practical for regional and long-haul transport.
The ETT 44 is also part of a much wider expansion of BYD’s European commercial-vehicle portfolio. The company previously focused on lighter commercial vehicles in Europe, but its new lineup now stretches from vehicles in the 3.5-tonne class to the 44-tonne ETT 44. BYD also showed new 4×2 and 6×2 rigid electric trucks at IAA Transportation for applications including regional logistics, municipal work and other commercial operations.
BYD is not planning to sell the truck as a vehicle alone. The company says it wants to provide an integrated commercial-transport package covering the truck, megawatt charging equipment, energy storage, energy management, financing and related services. The strategy is intended to give fleet operators a more complete electrification solution instead of requiring them to arrange the vehicle, charging infrastructure and energy systems separately.
European deliveries of the ETT 44 are planned for 2027, with industry reports citing the second quarter as the expected start of customer deliveries. BYD also plans to increase local manufacturing in Europe, following its broader expansion of European production.
Executive Vice President Stella Li said local truck production would help BYD become more integrated into the European market and reduce exposure to import-related challenges. The ETT 44 therefore represents more than a new electric truck for BYD; it marks the company’s move into Europe’s heavy-duty trucking sector with a combination of long range, megawatt charging and a broader energy ecosystem.
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