Peterbilt SuperTruck II Arrives in Vegas Looking Futuristic, Doesn’t Fear the Tesla Semi

Peterbilt is one of America’s oldest and most established truck manufacturers, specializing in the production of heavy-duty (Class 8) and medium-duty (Classes 5-7) commercial vehicles. Their products are easy to identify thanks to their large oval-shaped emblem, which also happens to be red, so you can’t really miss it.

Kenworth use a similar colorway for their badge, but it’s a completely different shape and it can sometimes get mistaken for something else. So, short of Mack Trucks, Peterbilt has arguably the second most recognizable badge.

Anyway, we’re not here to talk about badges, but rather the semi-truck that Peterbilt is currently exhibiting at CES 2024, in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. It’s their SuperTruck II demonstrator vehicle, and it was originally unveiled back in 2022 as a design exercise into how one might improve long-haul Class 8 vehicle freight ton efficiency by 100%.

The truck features a more aerodynamic shape with a centered driving position, which in turn improves overall visibility – although some drivers still think it’s not ideal to sit in the center of the cab during certain maneuvers.

Other highlights include the right-hand entry stand-up door, pop-out windows, cameras instead of mirrors, custom tires and wheels, plus a split-level integral cab and sleeper with a large, wrap-around dash, 15” digital dash display, an articulated seat and a pull-out desk. The dashboard also has an additional display for HVAC, infotainment and navigation controls.

In terms of powertrain, we’re dealing with a mild-hybrid unit, boasting a waste heat recovery system. Together with the lightweight chassis, Peterbilt feels this truck is not just 100% more efficient, but rather 132%, compared to your average long-haul Class 8 vehicle.

“SuperTruck II represents Peterbilt’s commitment to advancing technology and driving innovation,” said company general manager and PACCAR vice president, Jason Skoog. “We’re excited to leverage our success and insights from this program to enhance our product offerings and to strategically shape future product development initiatives to meet the needs of our customers.”

Personally, I’m not crazy about these new semi-truck designs. I know the goal is to improve aerodynamic efficiency, which means sleeker designs and fewer panel gaps, but what this means is that at some point, pretty much all semis are going to look the same – a shorter nose, wheel covers for the rear wheels, camera mirrors (not a bad thing), and an overall standardized aesthetic.

As for whether the likes of Peterbilt, Mack Trucks, Freightliner and Kenworth can still carry on with business-as-usual despite the incoming threat from Tesla, the answer is, probably? Take Peterbilt for example. They’ve already introduced a Class 8 battery-electric truck in the 579EV. It’s a decent "try", but it’s nowhere near as good as the Tesla Semi.

But, despite the 579EV's shortcomings, Peterbilt remains one of the best-selling truck brands in the United States, and I really don't see that changing.