It's been more than eight years since Tesla first showed the "Semi" truck to the public. Series production will begin in 2026.
Tesla Semi nears series production at Gigafactory Nevada. Dan Priestley promises 50,000 units annually and start before the end of the year after an eight-year wait.
The Tesla Semi electric truck is now close to production. A new factory is being built specifically for the purpose at Gigafactory Nevada. Plans for the long-awaited truck are now taking shape.
The factory is currently under construction. It will be strategically located on the same land as Tesla's existing Gigafactory in Nevada. It can leverage existing infrastructure and knowledge.
Dan Priestley, head of Semi production at Tesla, gave an update in a short video on YouTube.
He confirmed that series production is imminent after several years of delays.
Priestley also revealed the factory's assembly line capacity targets.
– The factory will have an annual capacity of 50,000 units, said Dan Priestley.
The first finished Semi trucks are expected to roll off the assembly line towards the end of 2025. The full scale-up of production is planned to take place during 2026.
Truck production – the direct replacement for diesel
The Tesla Semi was originally presented back in November 2017. It caused a stir at the time with its futuristic design and promises of long range.
A production-ready version was shown off in late 2022. Since then, Tesla has only produced a limited number of Semi trucks. They have been primarily used internally.
The units produced have been used in extensive pilot testing. Tesla has used the trucks in its own logistics operations between factories, providing valuable real-world data.
The testing period is intended to ensure that any technical challenges are discovered, so they can be fixed before mass production begins in earnest.
According to Dan Priestley, the Semi is designed as a direct replacement for diesel trucks. The goal is that hauliers and truckers will not have to compromise on range, performance or load capacity.
Tesla Semi: Specifications and Development
Replacing diesel places high demands on battery technology. Heavy trucks travel many kilometers per year and often transport heavy loads. This requires very large battery packs and efficient drivelines.
Dan Priestley also hinted at upcoming upgrades for the Semi truck. They are intended to further enhance the truck's overall package and competitiveness. Electric vehicle technology continues to advance rapidly.
He didn't give any specific details about the upcoming upgrades, however. Tesla is known for keeping development plans tight-lipped, so potential customers and the public will have to wait for more information.
The long road from the presentation in 2017 to the expected start of production in late 2025 suggests that Tesla has had more than a little difficulty cracking the code for an electric truck that is even moderately competitive.
But now it should be clear. At least almost. However, it hasn't been without bumps in the road.
For example, the California fire department had to spend 16 hours extinguishing one of the trucks when it caught fire and closed a stretch of highway in August last year. Read more about it here .
