Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

Registration No. 333-257496

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 8

(to Prospectus dated July 9, 2021)

Proterra Inc

161,169,124 Shares of Common Stock

28,941,556 Shares of Common Stock Underlying Warrants and Convertible Notes

This prospectus supplement supplements the prospectus dated July 9, 2021, as supplemented by Prospectus Supplement No. 1, dated August 11, 2021, Prospectus Supplement No. 2, dated August 13, 2021, Prospectus Supplement No. 3, dated September 8, 2021, Prospectus Supplement No. 4, dated September 13, 2021, Prospectus Supplement No. 5, dated October 15, 2021, Prospectus Supplement No. 6, dated November 12, 2021, and Prospectus Supplement No. 7, dated December 9, 2021 (the “Prospectus”), which forms a part of our registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-257496). This prospectus supplement is being filed to update and supplement the information in the Prospectus with the information contained in Item 5.02 from our current report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 16, 2021 (the “Current Report”). Accordingly, we have attached the information contained in Item 5.02 from the Current Report to this prospectus supplement.

The Prospectus and this prospectus supplement relate to the offer and sale from time to time by the selling securityholders named in the Prospectus (the “Selling Securityholders”) of up to 161,169,124 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“common stock”), consisting of (i) up to 41,500,000 shares of common stock issued in a private placement pursuant to subscription agreements entered into on January 11, 2021; (ii) up to 6,797,072 shares of common stock issued in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination (as defined in the Prospectus), in exchange for shares of our Class B ordinary shares originally issued in a private placement to ArcLight CTC Holdings, L.P. (the “Sponsor”); and (iii) up to 112,872,052 shares of common stock issued or issuable to certain former stockholders and other security holders of Proterra (the “Proterra Holders”) in connection with or as a result of the consummation of the Business Combination, consisting of (a) up to 60,006,701 shares of common stock; (b) up to 25,437,033 shares of common stock (the “Note Shares”) issuable upon the conversion of outstanding convertible promissory notes (the “Convertible Notes”); (c) up to 3,504,523 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of certain warrants (the “Proterra warrants”); (d) 11,111,287 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of certain equity awards; and (e) up to 12,895,129 shares of common stock that certain Proterra Holders have the contingent right to receive upon the achievement of certain stock price-based vesting conditions.

In addition, the Prospectus and this prospectus supplement relates to the offer and sale of (i) up to 3,504,523 shares of common stock issuable by us upon exercise of the Proterra warrants that were previously registered, and (ii) up to 25,437,033 Note Shares issuable by us upon conversion of the Convertible Notes, certain of which were previously registered.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “Nasdaq”) under the symbol “PTRA”. On December 16, 2021, the last reported sales price of our common stock was $8.94 per share.

This prospectus supplement updates and supplements the information in the Prospectus and is not complete without, and may not be delivered or utilized except in combination with, the Prospectus, including any amendments or supplements thereto. This prospectus supplement should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and if there is any inconsistency between the information in the Prospectus and this prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

Investing in our common stock involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 56 of the Prospectus to read about factors you should consider before buying our common stock.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus supplement is December 16, 2021

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangement of Certain Officers.

Resignation of John F. Erhard as Director

On December 12, 2021, John F. Erhard submitted his resignation as a director of Proterra Inc (the “Company”) and all the Company’s subsidiaries, and as a member of the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”), effective as of that day. Mr. Erhard does not hold any other positions with the Company, and did not serve on any other committees of the Board.

There are no disagreements between Mr. Erhard and the Company or the Board.