Tesla Semi Moves Toward Scale After Years of Delays

Tesla is handing over the first of its all-electric Semi trucks to customers after nearly a decade of delays and refinements. The truck was first revealed in 2017, and executives presented new details at an event in Reno, Nevada.

Customers can take delivery when they are ready, according to the report, though charging infrastructure remains a hurdle. That makes the rollout as much about fleet readiness as it is about vehicle production.

The event was held at a new factory dedicated to the Semi, located next to Tesla’s first Gigafactory in Reno. Tesla says it plans to build as many as 50,000 trucks a year at the plant, or roughly 1,000 per week.

The company also says the plant will create 3,000 jobs for the local economy. For fleet operators, the key takeaway is that Tesla is positioning the Semi as a scaled product rather than a limited pilot.

The most capable version of the Semi is expected to travel 500 miles or more on one charge, depending on load size. The report says that version is expected to cost just shy of $300,000 before incentives, with shorter-range variants also planned.

Tesla executives did not reveal the final sticker price at the event. They argued the truck can lower total cost of ownership, reduce emissions and offer greater reliability for fleet owners.

The Semi was originally slated for production in 2019, but delays were attributed to the pandemic, global parts and semiconductor shortages, and changes based on pilot customer feedback. Tesla says it also reduced the truck’s weight by roughly 1,000 pounds compared with the original version.

One practical redesign centered on the windows: Tesla moved from pop-out windows to standard roll-down windows after criticism from drivers and others. Executives also highlighted charging progress, including a demonstration in which a Semi went from 3% to 60% battery during the event while plugged into a megawatt charging station.