Watch Out for These New Truck Concepts and Prototypes
It’s an exciting time if you’re a motor vehicle enthusiast who loves to go to shows and expos to see all of the new concept cars and trucks. These events give you a glimpse of the prototypes of vehicles that could potentially be on the road soon.
Manufacturers and newbies to the market have teams working for months and even years to create “the next best thing,” with a host of new gadgets and upgrades that we all wish we could take advantage of right now.
To help you keep an eye on some of the improvements and inspirations that have been coming out, we’re sharing some insights on new truck concepts and prototypes in the commercial vehicle industry.
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It’s Electrifying
There is a lot of focus on electric vehicles and hybrids right now. With the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalizing rules that require a significant portion of new vehicles to be electric by 2032—with a target of 56% of new vehicles being Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV)—and states such as California requiring 100% of new passenger vehicle sales to be electric by 2035, automotive makers are stepping up their game. Commercial truck manufacturers are following suit. Here are a few prime examples:
- Ram. Ram’s 2026 lineup includes a production version of the Ram 1500 Ramcharger, a hybrid pickup truck that combines a V6 gasoline engine with a powerful range-extended electric powertrain, providing a total range of just under 700 miles. And while the new Ramcharger is considered a light-duty vehicle, its towing and payload capabilities rival those of some medium-duty trucks that are currently on the market.
- Tesla. Production of the Tesla Semi electric heavy-duty truck is anticipated to begin in 2026 as the company ramps up production on its battery-electric Class 8 model.
- Honda. Honda has developed a Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell truck concept they hope to further develop as a potential zero-emission solution for long-haul trucking.
Interesting Innovations
In addition to upgrades to the electric truck segment, some cool and curious prototypes and technologies are rising.
- Isuzu/UD has unveiled a prototype “vertical core cycle concept.” This highly modular delivery vehicle can expand or shrink the body and wheels of the vehicle to allow the cargo box or passenger cabin to be attached or detached vertically or horizontally, depending on the transportation need.
- General Motors (GM) has been testing heavily masked Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra HD prototypes, sparking speculation that they may be tinkering with new powertrain options that may include a new 8.3-liter Duramax diesel engine.
- Ford is releasing a mid-cycle refresh on their Super Duty trucks, sporting updated styling and enhanced towing technology such as Pro Trailer Hitch Assist. They are also expanding off-road package availability to better support commercial and fleet use.
- Kenworth is entering the heavy-duty pickup market with rugged and powerful new models. These high-output diesels (up to 680 horsepower) also offer all-wheel drive for extreme functionality.
Take The Wheel
Another highly anticipated advancement in the commercial trucking industry is the use of autonomous driving technology. Daimler Truck and Volvo Autonomous Solutions are just two of many manufacturers looking to reduce some of the human element from big rig driving.
- Aurora Innovation is a leader in long-haul autonomy and is actively scaling its commercial operations with Paccar and Volvo. They expect to have hundreds of driverless trucks on U.S. highways by the end of 2026, primarily in Texas between Dallas–Houston and Fort Worth–El Paso.
- Kodiak Robotics has a strategic agreement with Bosch to mass-produce their autonomous “Kodiak Driver” hardware. The company is scaling its industrial operations and has contracts to deploy 100 trucks by the end of 2026, targeting a highway implementation by the second half of 2026.
Marketplace Inventory
The Future is Now
You don’t need to wait for the latest concepts and prototypes to hit the streets if you’re in the market right now. Check out the online inventory of new and used vehicles and upgrade to a model with the latest technology for your fleet.
Barrett Baker
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