Zero-emission truck maker Nikola Corp., which recently transitioned to a publicly traded company, has begun building prototypes of its heavy-duty battery-electric model in Germany and is set for groundbreaking on a plant in the United States this summer. Further out, Nikola sees its longhaul models operating autonomously if needed. Nikola will build and sell the battery-electric trucks in Europe, exporting some to the U.S. market, with production scheduled to begin in 2021. Hydrogen fuel cell trucks targeted for the longhaul market will come next, and will be made in Europe and the United States.