Transportation · April 29, 2026 · Read original on TIME.com ↗
This year, TIME editors launch the TIME100 Companies: Industry Leaders lists, an expansion of the TIME100 Most Influential Companies issue that dives deeper into 20 sectors to look at the companies shaping their industries. These are the 10 most influential companies in transportation of 2026.
Chile has some ambitious transport electrification goals, aiming for 100% zero-emission freight transport by 2045. Enter Windrose Technology. In July, the little-known Belgium startup closed a deal to deploy up to 100 electric semi trucks in the Latin American country, capped by a factory unveiling at Walmart Chile attended by the country's president. A few months later, Windrose received permission to sell its flagship R700/E700 electric truck in China, the U.S., and across the EU. While rival Tesla's EV truck sales are mostly limited to North America, Windrose now has a presence in two dozen countries across five continents.
"Our mindset is to be both patient and aggressive. We had to wait four years before we could be fully certified to sell trucks. We're also very aggressive because we designed all the components and functions to be slightly excessive, unique, and unconventional for each region, yet still meet the needs of all the regions combined."
Its rigs haul heavy freight more than 400 miles on a single charge at a price that rivals Tesla's Semi. With diesel prices rising and fleet operators under pressure to cut fuel costs, Windrose aims to power at least 5% of the world's trucks by 2030.
— Joe Mullich