Tesla Semi enters high-volume production, nine years after its reveal
Words: Richard Edwards
Tesla has started high-volume production of its Semi electric truck at a dedicated factory in Sparks, Nevada, and begun deliveries to a wider group of customers, almost nine years after the truck was first shown.
The plant was opened at an invite-only event on Thursday, US time. It is designed to build up to 50,000 trucks a year, but Tesla did not say how many it is currently building, and did not reveal pricing. Every version of the truck, including a European-specification model, will be built on the same line.
Elon Musk addressed the event in a pre-recorded video. “We’re super excited to start production with the Tesla Semi truck and this is really going to be a revolutionary truck that is capable of carrying the heaviest loads over very long distances,” he said. “It’s going to make a ton of sense economically because the cost of electricity per mile is much less than the cost of diesel, especially in these crazy times.” He encouraged fleet operators to place orders, saying the waiting list was already “pretty significant”. Diesel prices in the United States are currently at record highs.
The Semi comes in Standard Range and Long Range versions, rated at up to 325 miles (about 520km) and 500 miles (about 800km). Both use an 800kW three-motor powertrain, and the driver sits in the centre of the cab rather than on one side. Tesla has quoted prospective buyers US$250,000 (about NZ$440,000 at current exchange rates) for the Standard Range and US$290,000 (about NZ$510,000) for the Long Range before taxes, according to Electrek, well up on the US$150,000 (about NZ$265,000) and US$180,000 (about NZ$320,000) Tesla listed when the truck was announced in 2017.
Trucks in the colours of PepsiCo, US Foods, DHL, WattEV, ABF, Einride and other fleets were lined up outside the factory for the event. Einride has committed to 500 trucks, and this week Tesla was named primary supplier for a 2,500-truck order from ZET SCALE, a programme backed by Microsoft and PepsiCo that also includes Kenworth, Volvo and RIDE. Tesla says it will also use the Semi to move its own freight.
The Semi was unveiled in November 2017, with production originally expected in 2019. Tesla delivered hand-built trucks to PepsiCo from December 2022, and the first truck came off the new high-volume production line in April this year.
A European-specification Semi was shown at the IAA Transportation show in Hannover on 15 September, with up to 550km of range when fully loaded and European deliveries targeted for late 2027. Tesla has also confirmed its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system is coming to the Semi. The truck has not been announced for Australia or New Zealand.
Tesla’s next launch is the second-generation Roadster on 1 October, for which New Zealand reservations are already open.
